Charity cancer row aims to raise £50, 000

9:29am Wednesday 21st February 2007

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AN oil rig driller is rowing his way around Britain in a bid to help raise more than £50,000 for a cancer charity.

Jim Clarke, of The Grove, West Wickham, is part of a 16-strong team taking part in the Macmillan UK Row Challenge.

The scheme sees teams take part in the 2,000 mile challenge which must be completed within three months, on rowing machines.

Mr Clarke is a member of the Songa Dee team, named after the oil rig in Norway where he works on behalf of the company Stena Drilling.

So far, the 36-year-old has raised £700 through sponsorship himself alone.

With each member of the team expected to raise at least £500 and with all monies to be matched by Stena Drilling, Songa Dee Drilling and Norweigan energy firm Norsk Hydro, the team expects to top more than £50,000 by the end of the challenge.

Mr Clarke, who completed his latest 20-mile stint at the gym at West Wickham Pools, said: "It's been fun but tiring. I've got sore hands, a sore backside and have lost about a stone in weight.

"But people have been very supportive, particularly the staff at West Wickham Pools, who have been very generous in letting me use the facilities."

The Songa Dee team are just 250 miles away from their target and expect to be finished by next week.

The father-of-two added: "I want to dedicate my row to my late mother Barbara and my father-in-law Derek, both of whom lost their battles against cancer in the last three years."

There are 30 teams taking part in the challenge and all cash raised will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support.