Grocott's Mail recently reported on the first phase of the Ubunye charity rowing challenge, a 24-hour indoor rowing event completed by the eight Ubunye Atlantic rowers, Rhodes University participants and charitable athletes all over the world. Grahamstonian and member of the Atlantic crew Ryan Palmer, as well as over 380 rowers from 10 countries on the five continents, all took part in the event. Palmer did his country and his hometown proud and managed to set the individual male record by rowing 314 348 meters in 24 hours on 9-10 November. He rowed at a venue in Johannesburg while local participants sweated it out on the Rhodes campus.
"Team Ubunye would like to thank everybody that was involved for all their support and hard work and for making the event a success,” Palmer said. All in all 5 598 147 meters were covered by all the participants and money was raised to steadily help Ubunye reach their £250 000 (R3 540 000) target for local charity the Angus Gillis Foundation and Zimbabwean charity Vimba. The exact amount is yet to be disclosed.
