FUNDRAISERS rowed 4,150 kilometres at Ampleforth College at the weekend in their bid to raise £25,000 Hope and Homes Children’s projects.

More than 500 took part in the rowathon, covering the equivalent distance from Ampleforth to the charity’s projects in Bosnia, Herzogovina, Romania and Ukraine.

The three-day event included a 2,000 metre race, projected onto a virtual rowing lake on a big screen, while the remaining miles were racked up in individual distance challenges, team 10k challenges, spring races and an endurance challenge.

Lady Jopling, of Ainderby Quernhow, near Thirsk, a patron of the charity and chairman of the Vale of York support group, said: “The weekend has been a tremendous success and it is wonderful to see how many young people from primary school age upwards have responded so enthusiastically to this worthwhile cause.”

She added: “We have had a lot of support and we are very grateful to the college and all those who have taken part in the Rowathon.”

In addition to the sponsorship achieved by the rowers, there was corporate support from R and R Ice Cream, White Cube, Denison Till, and Concept 2 Rowing.

Father Gabriel Everitt, college headmaster, said: “The school’s charitable arm shares many of the aims of Hope and Homes for Children and we were delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with the charity.”