Cambridge rowers complete gruelling eight-hour test for East Anglian Air Ambulance
The charity needs to raise enough money for a new base near the city
A team of Cambridge rowers have completed a gruelling eight-hour fitness challenge to help fund a new air base for the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).
The 18-strong women's senior squad from Cambridge Cantabrigians (Cantabs) Rowing Club rowed, cycled, ran and walked from the club's boathouse on the River Cam to raise £1,542 to help the EAAA appeal.
"EAAA helped one of our coaches, one of my family members, and the new base is due to be built not far from my home, so we were inspired in many ways to help the charity raise the funds it needs," Jess Allen, of Cantabs who organised the fundraiser, said.
"It was great for us to get together as a team and support the Cambridge Air Base Appeal."
By the end of the eight-hour challenge, the team had covered 461km.
"I was keeping an eye on my distance, and I said to my coach, 'let's see if I can reach 100km'," Jess added.
"At that point, the girls who had been rowing on the water came into the boathouse so several of us could finish together."
EAAA needs to raise £8.2m ahead of the planned closure of its current base at Cambridge Airport in 2030.
The charity has now raised £5.1 million towards its move to a new site near Fulbourn.
"We're incredibly grateful to the Cantabs Women's Senior squad for their brilliant eight-hour challenge," Christine Wright, community fundraising lead at EAAA, said.
"This will help to make sure the fastest, most advanced care is available when someone needs it, helping to save the lives of future generations."