Between the 14th and 15th October the Manchester University Boat Club (MUBC) continued its decade-long tradition of hosting a 24-hour rowing fundraiser, situated outside the Students’ Union. Funds raised from the event will support both MUBC’s equipment needs and Manchester Mind, a local mental health organisation dedicated to providing support across Manchester. This fundraiser has become a tradition over the years, bringing together members past and present to have fun and represent a cause that has a special place in their hearts.
Every year MUBC selects a different charity to support in this fundraiser, and this year they picked local charity Manchester Mind. Manchester Mind (affiliated with national charity Mind) has a thirty-year history of dealing with issues relating to mental health, and provide support to over 11,000 people annually. The club stated, “We really wanted to choose a cause that was both local and relevant to us and the student body, so as to make a positive impact in the local community.” Manchester Mind reportedly offered invaluable assistance with planning and promotion, and MUBC expressed a strong interest in future collaborations.
Organising the event involved a lot of administration and collaboration among various university teams. Despite a brief delay in planning due to Freshers’ Week, the Students’ Union staff were reportedly very helpful and worked with the club to ensure the event ran smoothly and on time. Throughout the day of rowing, members took turns on the machines while visitors stopped by to cheer them on and keep spirits high.
Mental health is a topic closely linked to MUBC, especially given the stress involved in balancing high-performance training with academic commitments and a social life. MUBC aims to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in athletics, supporting a charity that offers vital and accessible services for students who may otherwise struggle to find affordable or timely help. They explained, “conversation around mental health is definitely changing for the better, but I think it can still be really difficult to make that first step and reach out to somebody, made even more difficult by the inaccessibility of mental health support.”
The club are also using some of the funds they raise to support their own maintenance needs. The donations will go towards repairing broken-down boats to ensure the safety needed for the best performance possible, and to accommodate the ever-growing membership of the club.
MUBC are planning to host another 24-hour row either at the end of this academic year or the beginning of the next. They are also taking part in the 2024 UoM Sport Movember initiative, which raises awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and male suicide.
So far, MUBC has raised over £1000, and are still accepting donations. You can contribute by donating on the Students’ Union website. Those interested in keeping up with MUBC’s latest events and initiatives can follow the club on Instagram or Facebook for updates and opportunities to get involved.
