Eight members of the University of Dundee Boat Club (DUBC) are in training for a gruelling 24- hour non-stop row to raise to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research Scotland (BCRS).
The group will row the equivalent of nearly twice the length of the River Tay -360km- but without actually leaving the warmth of Students Association building. Each of the eight oarsmen taking part in the challenge will rotate in half-hour shifts on a rowing machine from 10pm on Thursday November 21 right through to the same time the following day.
Half the funds raised by the team's marathon effort will go to BCRS while the other half will assist in the purchase of racing craft for the Boat Club.
Men's captain Dave Shea, who is taking part in the event, said, "Breast Cancer is worryingly widespread and we want to support research that will hopefully one day find a cure. The row is definitely going to be a real challenge and we'll have to pace ourselves so we don't burn out too early on, but we're confident we can make it through the 24 hours."
University rector Fred MacAulay will be dropping in on Friday to lend his support to the team, while other DUBC members will be collecting donations around campus throughout the day.
Jo McGinley, public affairs consultant for BCRS said, "Dundee University Boat Club has shown fantastic ingenuity in this event and we are extremely grateful for their kind generosity. Breast cancer effects one in nine women in their lifetime and causes the death of over 13,000 women each year, therefore money raised at events like this help us directly combat this traumatic disease."
The team is still looking for sponsorship and anyone who would like to make a donation is asked to contact Dave Shea on 07811 88 0239 or BCRS events co-ordinator Jane Woods on 0800 052 1687.
By Jane Smernicki, Press Officer 01382 344768 j.m.smernicki@dundee.ac.uk