Row2recovery Announces BP Support
Row2Recovery, a campaign to raise £1m for injured service personnel and their families, has announced that BP has pledged its support for the project by signing on as the first official Premium Partner for Row2Recovery.
The project will see a mixed crew of able-bodied and amputee servicemen go beyond injury and achieve the extraordinary, by rowing across the Atlantic in an epic 3,000 mile adventure in December from the Canaries to Barbados.
Peter Mather, head of BP UK said: ‘BP is delighted to be supporting Row2Recovery. It is an inspiring example of the extraordinary impact that can be made through teamwork and dedication. We wish the team every success in their mission to transform the lives of injured British service personnel’.
As Premium partner, BP will support the operational aspects of the transatlantic row and BP employees helped the Row2Recovery team reach 1 million metres in 24 hours at the recent Million Metre Row held in Horse Guard’s Parade in London.
Row2Recovery is the brainchild of three former British Army captains – moved by their experiences, they have now set out to help their injured friends and comrades.
Co-founder Captain Tony Harris, who completed three tours in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan in 2009 with the Royal Fusiliers, lost his leg after an IED explosion.
He said: ‘We launched Row2Recovery to shine a spotlight on wounded British troops and provide them, and their loved ones, with financial and emotional support. We want to champion the extraordinary achievements of people with disabilities and inspire others with physical challenges to achieve greatness’.
‘The Million Metre Row is the first big step towards our goal of raising £1 million and is an important part of our training ahead of the Atlantic rowing challenge in December’.
Support for the campaign has been widespread, and the list of high profile backers includes British sporting heroes Steve Thompson, Freddie Flintoff, James Haskell, Jonny Wilkinson and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, as well as stars from the world of entertainment such as TV historian Dan Snow and ITN anchorman Mark Austin.
Fundraising events will take place throughout 2011, including a special dinner in London on 14th November to be held at the prestigious Royal Horticultural Hall.
Donations will be distributed between Help for heroes, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and SSAFA Forces Help – three organisations which work to improve the lives of men and women returning from combat.
