Latest news with #Row4MND
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe donates £1,000 to charity rowers after mistaking them for small boat migrants
EX-Reform MP Rupert Lowe gave £1,000 to a charity team rowing in his constituency after mistaking them for small boat migrants and calling for their deportations. He wrote on Thursday: 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. 3 3 3 'If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported.' The crew were reported to the coastguard, who identified them as Row4MND, a team rowing from Land's End to John O'Groats in a campaign hoping to raise millions for motor neurone disease. Correcting himself yesterday, now-independent MP Mr Lowe wrote: 'Good news. False alarm! 'As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity — raising money for MND. "Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants.' Defending his initial concerns, he continued: 'We received a huge number of urgent complaints from constituents. "I make no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents. It's a national crisis. 'No mass deportations for the charity rowers, but we definitely need it for the illegal migrants.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Rupert Lowe gives charity £1,000 after taking its rowers for ‘illegal immigrants'
The independent MP Rupert Lowe has agreed to donate £1,000 to a charity after mistaking its rowing crew, including a former Royal Marine, for 'illegal migrants'. Lowe, who was elected as a Reform MP but now sits as an independent for Great Yarmouth, said he had shopped the crew to the authorities and vowed to do everything he could to have them deported if they turned out to be what he suspected. Instead, he was accused of being part of a vigilante effort after it turned out they were the four-person crew of an ocean rowing boat who were off Great Yarmouth as they attempted to row from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise funding and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND). Lowe, who has claimed he was ousted from Reform in March because the party's leader, Nigel Farage, feared he was becoming too influential, posted a picture on social media on Thursday evening showing the boat near wind turbines off the Norfolk coast. 'Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW. Authorities alerted, and I am urgently chasing. If these are illegal migrants, I will be using every tool at my disposal to ensure these individuals are deported,' he wrote. He also demanded mass deportations. The crew – Matthew Parker, Mike Bates, Aaron Kneebone and Liz Wardley, known collectively as Row4MND – said they had been contacted by the coastguard and asked if they could see a dinghy nearby. Bates, a Royal Navy veteran and British record holder for rowing solo across the Atlantic, said it soon became clear the coastguard was asking about his own boat. 'I looked to my right and there was maybe a dozen individuals stood on the shoreline staring at us.' After satisfying the coastguard they were who they said they were, they continued. Several hours later, however, the coastguard contacted them again because the police had 'asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were'. A friend eventually forwarded Lowe's post to the crew, which Bates said had provided a moment of light relief. 'We found it hilarious,' he said. 'I've not been mistaken for a migrant before. The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I'm a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat. 'But it was almost like a vigilante-style, people following us down the beach. They hadn't twigged that we were parallel to the shore for hours and not trying to land.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Lowe later posted on social media: 'Good news. False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. As a well done to the crew, I'll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND. Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants! 'We received a huge number of urgent complaints from constituents. I make no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents. It is a national crisis. No mass deportations for the charity rowers, but we definitely need it for the illegal migrants!' The crew set off from Land's End heading for the Irish Sea, but bad weather forced them to turn back, so they headed in the opposite direction instead. They intend to row the return journey next year, from California to Hawaii in 2027 and New York to London in 2028, with a target of raising £57m.
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rowers raising £57m for MND research back on water after re-route
A team of rowers aiming to raise £57m for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research have restarted their epic journey after severe weather forced a change of Row4MND crew, inspired by rugby legends Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow, originally set off from Land's End en route to John O'Groats via the Irish Sea. But strong tides and 20-knot headwinds forced them ashore at Milford Haven, the crew returned to Cornwall, restocked their vessel, which is named 57 in tribute to Weir and Burrow's shirt numbers of 5 and 7, and set off again on Tuesday evening, now navigating via the English Channel and North Sea. "This was a bold but necessary decision," said co-founder Matt Parker. "We're mirroring the resilience of the MND community and remain committed to completing this challenge."Fellow crew member Mike Bates, a former commando, added: "We're one of the most experienced ocean crews ever assembled. "Turning back wasn't easy, but getting back on the water is the least we can do for this cause." The crew also includes ocean rowing coach Aaron Kneebone and elite sailor Liz Wardley. "Their journey is the first of four major challenges planned through to 2028, culminating in a transatlantic row from New York to London," Mr Parker England rugby league captain Kevin Sinfield praised the team's efforts: "Every stroke they row sends a message that the MND community is not alone."Funds raised will support research and treatment for MND, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Land's End to John O'Groats rowers 'won't stop' despite bad weather
A rowing team attempting a 900-mile (1,448km) journey from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise £57m for motor neurone disease (MND) research, say bad weather which forced them to change their route will not defeat four-strong team from Row 4 MND set off from Newlyn but were hampered by challenging weather 20 miles (32.1km) off the coast of member, Matt Parker, said the wind "was against us" and they had taken the decision on Sunday to change course to Milford Haven, off the Pembrokeshire coast in said they changed plans as "we're here to do something special" and were inspired by people with MND whose "big thing is doing everything with a smile on your face". Mr Parker said the message from the MND community had been "don't stop what you're doing".The crew's weather router and safety team came up with a couple of options to continue up the west coast "neither of which were low tariff or low risk", he could have rowed another 50 miles (80.4km) back to Ireland or waited another week for the weather to calm down."It was going to be another tough row and if we didn't make it, it was going to be very difficult to find a way of exiting. We wanted to carry on," Mr Parker said. Mr Parker swam ashore to the Welsh coast and travelled by taxi, train and car back home to pick up a trailer so the boat could be brought back to crew plan to now turn left and go anti-clockwise around the south coast of England, beginning at 22:00 BST on Tuesday, instead of heading up the west coast. They expect to reach The Lizard at 05:00 BST on Wednesday and aim to be at the south-east corner of England to row up the east coast late Friday or Saturday morning. He said the experienced team had more than 270 days of ocean experience between them and were resilient."Twenty four hours ago we thought we weren't going anywhere. If that means changing plans and asking people to help us, we're not shy of doing that," said Mr added the team had been motivated by messages from MND charities who told them: "The amount of money that you're trying to raise has the potential to fundamentally change what's going on."
BBC News
25-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Land's End rowers attempt to 'make change' in MND fight
A rowing crew attempting a 900-mile (1,448 km) from Land's End to John O' Groats say they are aiming to break rowing and fundraising four-strong team from Row 4 MND were set to take off from Cornwall at about 08:30 BST and expect to reach John O' Groats in Scotland via the Irish Sea about 21 days row is the first of four the team plan to do over the next four years and they hope to raise £57m for research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND).Team member Matt Parker, from Glasgow, said: "It's just not fair that diagnosis of MND results in a life without hope, it's time for us to take responsibility and to make that change." The team said it would be a "very technically and physically challenging row, particularly taking into account the dangerous waters and tides around the UK". The mixed crew also includes two former commandos - British Atlantic record-holder Mike Bates, from Leeds, and world-record holder Aaron Kneebone, from Dorset, as well as three times round-the-world sailor Liz plan to complete an unsupported circumnavigation of the UK next year, going from Scotland to Cornwall via the North Sea, before California to Hawaii and New York to London routes in subsequent years, with the latter being a world record Parker said he was inspired to raise money when a close friend lost his wife to MND seven years said the deaths of rugby players Rob Burrow and Doddie Wier from the disease had also spurred them on.
