Setting off from Leander Club in Henley, the crew rowed
the distance over two days, finishing at the New College,
Oxford boathouse, where Pete had spent much of his time
as an undergraduate student.
The event hoped to honour Pete’s memory, particularly as the first-year anniversary of his death comes around, and to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) which gave Pete, his family and his friends so much support during his seven-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Commencing last Friday morning in the charming town of Henley-on-Thames – scene of where Pete won the Lightweights Boat Race for Oxford – a collection of his closest friends, including our own Head of Senior School, Mr Marshall-Taylor, rowed the distance to Oxford, where Pete’s sister and parents were waiting to greet them.
Following the row, Mr Marshall Taylor added, "just as Pete would have wanted, it was full of laughter, new friendships and a sense of hope – hope that, when we all contribute our little bit and come together to do what we can, something significant, something remarkable can happen.
As Pete’s mum commented at the end, Pete himself would have loved the challenge as a celebration of so many things and so many people that he loved", he continued.
imagined the enormous generosity of support, both in
person, along the banks of the Thames and in Oxford,
and through the fundraising website.
