Rower switches to road for charity challenge - The Stratford Observer

Rower switches to road for charity challenge

Stratford Editorial 27th Aug, 2014 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

A ROWER seeking a new challenge is cycling from London to Newcastle – in 24 hours.

Ben Smith has been interested in water sports for as long as he can remember but decided to step out of his comfort zone and sign up to Ride 24’s 300 mile endurance challenge.

It starts next Saturday (August 30) and will see the 21-year-old from Stratford cycle through the night to reach Newcastle.

Ben – who works at Avon Boating and is heading to Warwick University later this year to study international security – hopes to raise £1,400 for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), a charity close to his heart after an accident when he was younger.




He said: “After seeing the air ambulance in direct action, I decided to raise enough money for them to fly one mission.

“Although 300 miles is a massive distance I have always been an active sportsman and push my mind and body as far as I can, and then a bit further. I was looking for a new challenge and decided this would be a good idea.”


In 2004 when returning from a football tournament he was involved in a car crash with a motorcyclist which required the assistance of the rescue helicopter.

He told the Observer: “Because of the severity of the crash and to provide the fastest medical care the air ambulance was called.

“After witnessing the skill of the paramedics and pilots they became a charity I have always respected and supported.”

Visit www.justgiving.co.uk/Ben-Smith1992 to donate.

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