Words by Smiley Team
British former rower, Andy Triggs Hodge, is a three-time triple Olympic champion and four-time world champion. And now, he’s on a mission to give back to others, using rowing as a tool to help children from disadvantaged communities.
Andy was previously a volunteer with, and now works at, London Youth Rowing, a charity wanting to change young people’s lives using the power of the sport. Their aim is to get young people, between the ages of 11-18, active. Through rowing, they teach young people basic skills such as problem solving, leadership, teamwork, staying positive and aiming high.
“A young person’s journey with us is all about that development,” Andy tells Smiley News. “We want them to feel driven as an individual and feel equipped to find a route to achieve their potential.”
The charity works with businesses, who run workshops or create videos to talk about what they do through the lens of those core skills taught in rowing. “Young people see this, hear the same language, and start to think they can do it,” says Andy. “That they’re capable.”
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The power of transferable skills in rowing is huge, he adds, and the charity witnesses many young people go through the process of rowing and finding their confidence.
“Our aim is to help smash glass ceilings and enable them to achieve their potential,” says Andy.
Since 2018, the charity has run an event called Race the Thames to fundraise each year. The idea is that people would row the full length of the tidal Thames (45 miles to be exact) in teams of eight. In March 2021, the event went virtual and they had 180 teams, fundraising £120,000 and £40,000 for other charities.
In January 2022, the event is back. You can bust the winter blues, get together a team of eight, and run, cycle, row or whatever you like, the 346km of the River Thames over the event week: 24th to the 31st of January.
You’ll be brought together on the London Youth Rowing arena, the charity’s event platform. Sign-up is free, and the charity asks for a minimum fundraising amount of £400 per team (£50pp). Half the money raised goes to London Youth Rowing, and the other half will go to a nominated charity of the group’s choice.
The event is a great way for businesses to use it as a team building exercise, and raise money for charity in the process.
Team captains (you don’t need a full team to sign up, and once signed up you won’t have a problem filling the crew):
1. Follow this link Race the Thames Virtual and find the sign up link at the top of the page.
2. Enter all the details, including listing your second charity. You’ll then be assigned an event marshal by London Youth Rowing who’ll be in contact to help you.
3. You’ll also get a link to set up a JustGiving page and a sign-up link for your teammates.
Find out more about London Youth Rowing charity and how it supports children on its website.
