Mississippi Million $ Row

THE MISSISSIPPI MILLION $ ROW WILL BE IN TOWN ON

24th September

Olympic medallist and charity boss John Pritchard is rowing the entire length of the mighty Mississippi in a traditional Victorian skiff to raise $1m for Right To Play - a challenge that will mean rowing up to 30 miles a day for almost 90 days to cover the 2300 miles.

His exhausting journey from the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca to its end in New Orleans is a world away from the gentle and familiar reaches of England's River Thames.

Rowers will face dangers from currents, wind and weather, not to mention mosquitos and huge barges as they embark on two day stages. There will be two skiffs rowing together, each skiff with two rowers and a cox. John Pritchard, 56, Chairman of Right to Play UK, will captain one skiff and another experienced rower the other.

The skiffs are based on boats used as water taxis in old London and are built using methods laid down by the Vikings. Intrepid participants, including his son Charlie, 15, have committed to raise funds for the charity through sponsorship.

Five years ago John, his wife Julie and son Charlie left their London home to visit Ghana with Right To Play, a global organisation using play to educate and empower, transforming the lives of children facing adversity.

The Pritchards went way out into the bush to Battor, Ghana, to the Three Kings School for children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. As they played with the kids John noticed Richmond. "I now know he was 10, the same age as my son but half Charlie's size," says John. "Richmond has Down's syndrome and he was too small to play with the big kids, but he was clearly something of a character." That marked the start of John and Richmond's friendship _ and eventually led to the Mississippi Million challenge.

"Originally I quite fancied rowing the Pacific, which is really bonkers." says John, a formerCambridge UnIversity Boat Race rower.

Of course rowing the entire length of the Mississippi isn't bonkers at all!

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Contact us on: 651 955 2438 Gillian Mulcahy

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