CLEAN WATER IS ESSENTIAL

Water is essential to life. You cannot do without it. Water makes up between 50% and 70% of your body mass. You, I, and everyone on the planet need to drink 2 to 2.5 litres of water daily, more if you are pregnant or live and work in the heat.

Unfortunately, over 700 million people worldwide lack basic access to clean and safe drinking water.

We take clean water for granted. But I know from my travels in in dry regions the value of every drop of precious clean water. So, to mark my 70th birthday this April, I will row 100 km on a Concept2 to raise £7,000 for charity: water to fund clean water projects in regions where water is scarce or undrinkable.

Celebrating 70 years

I am fortunate to be fit and healthy (to the best of my knowledge) as I hit 70. I want to celebrate my serendipitous fortune (the cat with nine lives has nothing on me) by raising a significant sum for charity: water’s clean water projects.

It is also a time to remember and commemorate the family and friends who didn’t make it with me. There are far too many, even amongst the young. They have enriched my life, and I will not forget them.

Donate now

So, please donate generously. It’s not just for me but for my friends and family who are still around, those no longer with me and above all, for those to whom every last drop of water is precious.

You can also set up a monthly donation. Charity: water loves regular income, and regular donations may be attractive if you are concerned about the global economic situation and recent stock market falls. I’ll assume regular contributions last for a year, so if you donate £7 per month, I’ll call it £84 towards my target.

How about it? Just £7 a month for a year enables over 35 people to have a year’s supply of clean water.

Giving just 1% of your net income makes a difference in this world, and if you don’t know how much you give, go to https://giving1percent.com/ and find out.

And if you qualify for Gift Aid, charity: water can claim a further 25% of the value of your donation back from the UK Government.So don’t think about it. Just do it. Now

CHALLENGE DETAILS

The challenge

To row 100km on an indoor rowing machine in April to mark my 70th birthday.

Donations

Please make direct donations to charity: water at https://www.charitywater.org/jeremy-deedes/rowing-challenge. All of your donations will go to fresh water projects. You can make a one-off donation or set up a monthly donation.

And please complete charity: water’s short survey once you have donated.

Challenge details

The rowing machine: Row Erg by Concept2

Target distance: 100 kilometres (100,000 metres) as follows:

• Week 1 (31 March to 6 April): 10,000 m (a walk in the park)
• Week 2 (7-13 April): 20,000 m (more a park run)
• Week 3 (14-20 April): 30,000 m (a sweat)
• Week 4 (21 to 30 April): 40,000 m (a big challenge)

Target average pace: 2 mins 30 seconds per 500 m

Target stroke rate: 25 strokes per minute

Drag factor: 135

Lifetime distance rowed at the end of April 2025: ***Lifetime distance rowed at the beginning of April 2025: 431,465 metersLifetime distance rowed in April 25: ****

THIRST BY SCOTT HARRISON

Find out more about charity: water and why and how  Scott Harrison set up the charity. You can also find out about Scott’s story in his book Thirst.

What do you think?

Your views are important, and your fellow readers would love to hear your opinion,
so share your thoughts in the comments box below, and thank you for your time and generosity.

What do you think?

Your views are important, and your fellow readers would love to hear your opinion, so share your thoughts in the comments box below, and thank you for your time and generosity.