The Year I Tried To Row the Channel!
We thought it would be nice to share with you an inspirational story regarding a recent Business School sponsored event involving one of our students – Emma Butterworth – who will be well known to a number of colleagues in the School. Read on if you’d like to find out more about Emma’s attempt to row the channel and raise money for charity.
‘Having thrown myself into life at the University of Birmingham, I didn’t want to stop saying yes to almost anything and everything going. So, when an email graced my work inbox on a Monday morning, asking for volunteers to row the channel on 9th July in order to raise £12,000 for charity, I thought, why not?
Nine stressful months later, I have completed what was the most physically and emotionally testing thing I have ever done (bar finishing a 20” pizza, all by myself). In all seriousness, putting me through that struggle for the sake of supporting those less fortunate than myself makes it easily my proudest accomplishment to date.
First, there was the fundraising. My parents warned me how much £12,000 was, even between our team of seven colleagues. But in my naïve positivity, I dismissed concerns and on I went with carefree bake sales, Facebook posts and emails. Although the money was trickling in, trickles weren’t enough. Fast forward to June (approximately three weeks before the row) and strict personal fundraising targets were agreed. I spent every lunch-time, evening and weekend, frantically racking my brain for what to do and who to contact. I hassled every company and newspaper I had a connection with. I baked (again). I badgered colleagues with sweepstakes. I hosted pub quizzes. I shook buckets at all passers-by. Then I spammed, and spammed again to any social media audiences that would listen.
Then, my knight in shining armour, UoB, so kindly and generously accepted a sponsorship proposal. I was ecstatic. The donation came in ten days before our channel row date, which was coincidentally the day after my deferred graduation. Yes, my graduation that I had deferred twice already was now the day before I was due to row the channel. No bubbles for me!
However, it was not plain sailing. On the eve of my graduation and the eve of the row, we received a much unexpected call. The predicted knot level for the weekend was 14-16; it was unsafe to row above 11. I was absolutely gutted. I had been training so hard and it was indefinitely postponed.
What was the next step? Find a date in the height of summer when we were all available. Between an expectant father, an international athlete and five other jet setting individuals, it was virtually impossible. We found six dates we were all in the country. But of these six dates, the Ahoy Centre and the Port of Dover Authority only approved one, which, was still weather dependent. The row that was supposed to occur on 25th July was yet again postponed, 12 hours before our train departed for Dover, due to the famous British weather.
I couldn’t help but feel a drop in enthusiasm and motivation in training. Every time I saw the erg, I felt frustrated by the lack of certainty to complete what I had fundraised and worked so hard for. Not only this, it was tough to maintain open communication with friends, family and supporters. I had no news to share; we didn’t know when we would be able to get in the boat!
It was time to look at other options. The Port Authority cleared two weather dependent dates across September and August, but the complete team weren’t available for either. We were given the option of delaying until next summer, but again, there would be no guarantee of a suitable date with appropriate tides and wind speed. Lastly, we were proposed a 50km endurance row along the Thames on 24th September. This was 15km longer than the channel but didn’t pose the same wind and tide restrictions. As much as I had my heart set on completing the Channel, I had to accept that in order to complete the challenge altogether, the Channel wasn’t going to be possible. I absolutely hate giving up on things so I was severely disappointed.
Nevertheless, physically this was still going to be incredibly hard. Mentally, it was going to be even harder, we lacked the thrill and test of the Channel, coupled with the disappointment of not fulfilling our initial aim. However, I was also stubbornly determined not to let that stop me smashing this thing once and for all! Out came the daily motivational quotes, early gym sessions and before we knew it, we were off.
The first half was easier than I imagined. We had the sun shining, views of the Cutty Sark and O2, as well as generous cheerleading friends along the way. We made it to our half way point ahead of time and enjoyed a 20-minute break in Dartford, with pots of pesto pasta.
We were eager to recommence and complete the 25km return to Deptford in under three hours. Four hours later, the pain was at its max. We were fighting against not only the tide, but a brutal headwind. The water was choppy, the smells grim and the landscape nothing but industrial wasteland and derelict ships. As much as we upped the stroke rate and completed many a ‘power of 10’, a grey worn out warehouse seemed to have permeated my vision. Morale turned low as we seemed to be making no progress.
I switched to cox, and although direction may have taken a backseat, I attempted to invigorate the team by chucking jelly babies in mouths, played game after alphabet game, and counted to ten in as many languages as possible.
Unfortunately, this was no distraction to the agony felt in the last hour. Muscles were cramping, blisters were bursting and backs were bending. Hamstrings and glutes were working overtime. Now in stroke position, I picked up the rate which meant an intense glute and leg push every four seconds. I felt I had been squatting for days. But familiar sights were coming into view! Including the Nando’s we were dreaming of. ‘(Chick)-in, out’, became the best chant to get the oar in and out of the water. We screamed with a delightful mix of pain and sense of satisfaction as we hit home. I looked up and saw housemates from UoB at the finish line, such a heart-warming surprise.
We had done it! We had rowed, rowed and rowed oar boat some more in order to raise over £11,000 for the Ahoy Centre. By putting myself through this, others were going to benefit in return. I felt proud to have made it to the end with the knowledge I had made a difference.
What have I learnt from the experience? Never to attempt a weather dependent challenge again! More importantly, how grateful and lucky I am to be where I am today. I was overwhelmed by the support of friends, family, acquaintances and strangers. I have relied upon and supported my team of rowers/fools where possible and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. Teamwork and support were paramount. But so were ups and downs and random outbursts of emotion along the way.
It was worth it, not just the six hour struggle on the day, but the perseverance over the last nine months. I can’t help but already wonder what my next challenge will be…’