First ever inclusive virtual boat race
On Saturday 13th June we hosted the first ever inclusive virtual boat race – screened live on Power2Inspire’s Give-as-you-live page. What a spectacular event!
Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship and club rowers, representing teams from Oxford and Cambridge, competed side by side in the mch.london virtual boat race to raise funds for Power2Inspire!
The race is still available to watch online at Power2Inspire’s Give as You Live page – with an option for viewers to donate to the charity – and experience the thrill of watching these fantastic oarspeople compete in an inclusive sporting event.
Rowers including World champion Oliver Cook, Rio Paralympic Champion Grace Clough, Olympic Triple Gold Medallist Pete Reed, Australian para rower Renae Domaschenz and Gold Medallist Tom Ransley, all raced from their homes across the world. Garry Herbert and Martin Cross – of the BBC – provided commentary of what was a high action, shared sporting occasion online.
Although this event was in gestation for 4 years, its delivery came together in a whirlwind two weeks!
It was seeing the women competing in their Boat Race on the Thames just before the men’s race, that inspired me to dream that we could create an inclusive race. And the success of the Power2Inspire Inclusive Festivals – including badminton, hockey, tennis and golf – encouraged me to find a way to make a rowing event with the same philosophy, to include people of different abilities participating together. The link with Cambridge Blue Fiona Macklin was crucial: she connected me to the Cambridge University Women’s and Lightweights Rowing Club and that led to a PowerHouseGames with them in 2019.
The teams had to be matched AND to be inclusive. We settled on two disabled rowers in each team, one male and one female, and overall an equal number of men and women – 4 of each. With lockdown and the cancellation of all the Boat Races – lightweights, women and men – there was an extra desire amongst the club rowers to be involved. Some real competition, and accessible from their own homes – the enthusiasm has been contagious.
We then started to recruit. Ian Middleton, Cambridge cox in 2014, connected me to Oxford’s Ollie Cook – current World Champion and Blue in 2017. Ollie recruited Pete Reed (Olympic champion, 2008, 2012 and 2016, Blues 2004 and 2005) who is undergoing rehab from a spinal stroke and will fill the disabled male seat in the Oxford boat; and Grace Clough (Paralympic gold 2016) who completed her Masters in 2017 at Kellogg College.
Meanwhile I had been introduced to Jan Helmich, a German Paralympic hopeful, studying for a Masters at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, a perfect fit for the Cambridge male disabled seat.
With a world champion in the Oxford crew Cambridge needed to up their game. John Pritchard introduced me to Sean Gorvy who recruited Tom Ransley (Olympic champion 2016), Pippa Whittaker and Ollie Parish (world juniors silver 2019 and in the current Cambridge squad).
The crews were really coming together. Amelia Standing, from Chester – where I coxed briefly – joined with Alexander Bebb (the Oxford President) and recruited Martha Birtles, Amy Hosking and lightweight Jan Ole Ernst to complete the Oxford eight.
The Cambridge crew was finalised with the link to Renae Domaschenz an Australian cox for their national PR3 (a disability category) mixed coxed four. Sophie Paine, in the Light Blues 2020 squad, eagerly picked up the ‘captaincy’ of the Cambridge virtual boat race crew from outgoing President Larkin Sayre (a key mover in the PowerHouseGames happening back in September) and completed the crew: lightweights Freddie Markanday and Miranda Clements.
We were good to go!
By then mch.london had come on board, first as marketing advisers and then more importantly as sponsors and finally as project managers. Mark Howarth, their founder and CEO, has described the last few weeks as a whirlwind. I have likened it to the runway on a ski jump after a 4 year climb to the start! Their help, introductions – to Small Films, Give as you live and GingerMay – have been invaluable.
Small Films created the video from all the home movies the rowers submitted of their rows; award-winning GingerMay advised on the PR; and Give As You Live hosted the landing page where the video was watched by thousands on Saturday 13th June. Over £20,000 has so far been raised by this incredible event!
An unexpected challenge which made this a truly global event is that the rowers are spread around the globe. Renae is based in Australia, Sophie in the Bahamas and Jan Ole in Berlin. A fun problem to have. What truly excited me has been the enthusiasm of all the rowers to be involved in something so inclusive. Grace summed it up beautifully when she thanked me:
“Thanks for having me involved, such a great thing to be part of and would love to be part of many more. It’s something close to me. Please let me know if you need anyone to speak or talk to the media about the importance of inclusion and sport for all. I’ve had my fair share of fights to be included and feel very privileged to have experienced a Paralympic Games and the power of sport and disability there.”
There isn’t any sport she can compete in for her university, despite being a Paralympic champion. Creating opportunities like this and not just for disabled athletes, but for all, regardless of age, ethnicity, faith, gender or sexual orientation is crucial to creating a fairer world.
I am proud that Power2Inspire is starting that journey, though I admit we have so far to travel. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – at least we have started!
Crew line-ups
Find out more about the Paralympic, World Championship and club rowers representing Oxford and Cambridge
The 2.6 Challenge
Power2Inspire has been part of the massive movement to raise funds for charities which were denied their annual fund raising support through the London Marathon, which was cancelled because of the corona-virus. Our team ran, kept-up balls, planked, did sit-ups, biked, and skipped to help. This was all great, and a huge thank you to our trustees for leading the way.
Perhaps the best thing we did to help in these difficult times was to provide a simple series of exercises on Facebook for seat-bound or elderly people. Some of these people were already accustomed to these classes which we hold in libraries across East Anglia every week, but the total numbers so far have massively exceeded the normal turnout, with 90,000 views already recorded.
You can find out more by clicking the link here:
Our charity is all about embedding inclusive sport in the sporting, education and community landscapes, and our main priority is to include disabled people and those with special needs, whatever their creed or colour. We are already planning for events to happen as soon as the lockdown measures allow us to continue our work, and we look forward to seeing you at one of these in the near future.
Watch the website for further information… starting with the first-ever inclusive virtual boat race…on Saturday 13th Feb at 3pm.
Our charity, like every other, has been significantly impacted by the events of the last few months. We know this has been a tough time for everyone too, but if you can possibly support us in our work, it would be tremendously appreciated.
Thank you so much.
SS1K - Reminiscences, Regrets & Hopes
Sunday 17th May was due to have been the day we held our third SuperSensory1K at Histon Rec. Sadly, we had to cancel it when the country entered lockdown.
But that it is a very small price to pay: we at Power2Inspire take this opportunity to extend our condolences to all the families and friends who have lost loved ones in these tragic times; and to salute the efforts of medical staff, care workers and others on the front line, who have been so generous with their time and humanity. Thank you!
So rather than dwell on the sadness of yet another event having been cancelled, we are going to celebrate the excitement, joy and fun of the SS1Ks we have held – in 2018 and 2019!
Such is the importance of the SS1K fixture for Power2Inspire, it is difficult to credit that the first one took place only two years ago on a marvellously sunny and warm, perfect May Bank Holiday Monday. The idea was developed by our then operating officer Sally Gibson, who had been approached by the Friends of Histon Recreation Ground to see if we could include an inclusive section in their running festival. They had a course, a lovely roped-off loop around the rec, runners competing from 1k to 5k and a desire to make their event open to all.
We added the sensory stations: five gazebos along the route, one for each of the senses – smell, sight, touch, hearing and taste. After begging and borrowing the gazebos, tables, and chairs and recruiting Burwash Manor and Burwash Larder to help stock the smells, touch and best of all, taste stalls, we encouraged volunteers to man them. Sign up was slow, but we needn’t have worried: 132 participants took part, over 50 of them in wheelchairs. The sun shone, children ran and laughed, looked intrigued and scared – what is it? A strawberry, really! But above all everyone had fun.
We were determined to improve for year two, as we were welcomed back by the Friends in 2019. We acquired gazebos and secured a main sponsor in Irwin Mitchell, whose name was emblazoned on our smart purple T-shirts, given to all that took part. Other sponsors came on board, supporting and in the case of Watermill and PEM running a stall. And Rompa brought their amazing sensory van, showcasing all the marvellous stimulating products they sell – real entertainment as we waited for the start.
The cold – it was the coldest May Bank Holiday Monday on record – and forecast rain, though that stayed away, reduced participation but over 68 took part the fun was in no way diminished. One family declared this was the first event that they had ever been able to enjoy together as family, as their son ran round the course and then encouraged his sister as she walked round. Big smiles!
As soon as this year’s event was cancelled we turned our attention to next year. We already have a date: Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May. So please add it to your diaries now and follow our announcements as we endeavour to make the third SS1K the best yet!
Fundraising has started with a fabulous £200 gift (£250 with gift aid) from an anonymous donor – whom we take this opportunity to salute and thank! If you would like to make a donation please click on the nice shiny button!
New seat-based exercise classes launched
New Seat-Based Exercise Classes to Beat-the-Lockdown
With the support of the Cambridgeshire Community Coronavirus Fund and Living Sport’s Community Small Grant Fund we are delighted we are doing our bit to beat the virus!
Our partners, Oak Activities, with their fabulous coach, Lou, are leading three LIVE online classes daily every weekday for the next 12 weeks, aimed at helping those with limited mobility to stay active and healthy.
We are doing this in response to the libraries at March, Ramsey, and St Ives (all in Cambridgeshire) having had to close under the lockdown.
We understand the need in these difficult times, to maintain our fitness: not only do we all benefit from the strength and endurance gained, there are benefits to our mental health and to our resilience.
The morning session will be for Beginners (and will be seated).
The lunchtime session will be an Intermediate class (seated and standing)
The afternoon session each day will be an Advanced class (seated and standing).
Participants can choose any (or even all) of the sessions: we advise they build it into their daily routine to develop an exercise habit.
We do ask participants to take responsibility for their own health: to reduce and avoid injury, participants will need to check with their doctor before beginning any fitness program, and doing these exercise classes will be at your/their own risk. Thanks for your understanding.
To head direct to the Keep Active with Oaks Facebook Live page, where the sessions will stream at the appropriate times, click this button
Monday to Friday
9:30am
12:00pm
3:00pm
30 minute sessions
If you do not use Facebook or would like a recorded version, please click one of these buttons for a YouTube version.
Cambridge University Rugby PowerHouse Games 2019
Cambridge University Rugby PowerHouse Games 2019
The Men and Women from the Cambridge University Rugby Squads came together to host the second “Rugby Power House games” at the University Sports Centre on Thursday 26th September. They were joined by students from Felsted School, Impington Village College and Castle Special School in inclusive games such as boccia, New Age Kurling and to keep with the rugby theme, Touch Rugby.
“Birketts is proud to support this fantastic community day. As well as providing a fun morning of bespoke activities for local schools, this event is vital because it brings together people from different backgrounds, whose paths may otherwise never cross. It is important to show that people of all abilities can enjoy active lives and the opportunity to connect with their local community.”
Laurence Weeks, partner at Birketts
The fun, the smiles, the laughter were contagious and tangible proof that, “No one was left on the bench!”
“PEM are proud to be sponsoring this event for the second time. It’s a very inspiring and rewarding day for everyone involved and we are grateful to be a part of it.”
James Burrett, partner at PEM