Row, row, row your boat for charity

05 March 2010

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A group of enthusiastic rowers, including Woking Football Club's mascot KC the Kat and players, were limbering up at Evolve Fitness Suite last Tuesday (2 March) in preparation for a nautical charity challenge in aid of Sport Relief.

The Red Nose Row Challenge is an endurance race, where teams of three must row a total of 6,000 meters on a rowing machine. It doesn't matter how they do it, but the team with the fastest time will be crowned Woking's Red Nose Row Champions!

The Challenge will take place on Friday 19 March. Entry is £12 per team and must be booked in advance with Woking Leisure Centre on 01483 771122 or email emma.cortney@woking.gov.uk by Thursday 18 March. All participants must be 16 or over and there must be at least one female per team.

Event organiser and Woking Leisure Centre's Fitness Suite Manager, Jackie Waite, said: "We are encouraging anyone to get involved! It's such a great opportunity for people to get together and raise money for a worthy cause."

KC the Kat will also be `Mile Ready', as he takes to the Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile, which has been organised by Woking Borough Council, on Sunday 21 March. It's one of hundreds of events that will be taking place across the country to raise money that will help vulnerable people living incredibly tough lives both at home in the UK and in the world's poorest countries.

Local people of all ages and abilities can take part in the Woking race. This year, Milers can choose to complete one, three or six miles to challenge themselves and raise sponsorship at the same time. Runners will also be invited to complete the course in their own special style. Suggestions include running the race in fancy dress, completing the race backwards and teaming up with someone else to do it three-legged!

Speaking about the event, Woking Borough Council's Health and Well-being Development Officer, Gary Cordery, said: "We're delighted that Woking is once again hosting this exciting event. It was a huge success in 2008 and we're looking forward to seeing hundreds of residents enjoying exercise, having fun and raising money for Sport Relief."

Anyone who is interested in taking part should register beforehand at the Sport Relief website, www.sportrelief.com or telephone 0845 605 8000. Places for the Woking event are limited to 600 so potential Milers are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.

Spectators will also be able to join in with the fun as a number of other activities have been organised including relays and games, refreshments, `come and try' hockey, a fancy dress competition, raffle, and a smoothie bike where people can use pedal power to make their own smoothie!

Local residents are encouraged to go green and make their way to Goldsworth Park by walking, cycling or catching the number 91 bus.

For further information about the Woking event, please call Woking Borough Council's Health and Wellbeing Development Officer, Gary Cordery, on 01483 743424 or email gary.cordery@woking.gov.uk