On May 12-13 2023, a mixed crew rowed 100km from Henley to Oxford - despite the Thames being closed for strong streams - raising over £125,000 for MNDA! Find out more about the event here:   https://petebellengerchallenge.muchloved.com/Lifestories/666693124

Throughout the event the 'Team Pete' crew had the words of Chris Webster, Pete’s friend and colleague from Brighton College, ringing in our ears. With his contribution to the event, Chris wrote, 'My huge-hearted, beautiful friend. I miss you so much. But my word! Look at what you’ve gone and done!'

When we first mooted the idea of '100k for MNDA' after Pete’s funeral we had three objectives:
1. To involve Pete’s family in a fitting memorial with the New College and rowing communities where he spent some of his happiest times
2. To raise funds for the MNDA and the caring community which worked tirelessly to support Pete through his illness so that they can continue to support others

More about the third and last objective in a moment!

Objective 1 was achieved – and surpassed. Never could we have imagined the donations of time, cheer, love, laughter and know-how by so many people to make this event a reality. It was the perfect tribute to Pete which will live long in the memories of his family and friends alike! The Top Gun theme tune, which heralded the crew’s arrival at the finish line, and “Sunchyme” - played by Sara Cox on Radio 2 for Pete and the team - will never be the same again!

As for objective 2, whilst '£100k for MNDA' had a ring to it, many of us worried that such a large sum would overshadow the main objective of commemorating Pete.

At the time of writing, almost 650 donors have contributed over £127,000. In his speech following the event, Mark Chapman (FD of MNDA) pointed out that whilst this money will make possible the groundbreaking research into drugs - which show signs of arresting the progress of the disease - it is also needed to provide cost of living grants to allow MND patients to keep their life-supporting equipment switched on.

So to all our supporters: a huge “THANK YOU” for making a real difference to MNDA and to patients up and down the country.

In his acceptance speech for his teaching award and in his blog "No Ordinary Hope" Pete talked of his wonder at the love and support he discovered when he was at his most vulnerable. For many of the crew, this event has been a lesson in exactly that wonder: that life is not always about being the biggest or the best; that there is a transformational power in a community brought together by generosity, kindness, humility, laughter and big-heartedness. For many of us in Team Pete - rowers, organisers, supporters and donors - that’s the “no ordinary hope” which Pete has left us with. 

So what was Objective 3? To set the precedent for a future “Team Pete” to complete the “Peter Bellenger Memorial Challenge - 100k for MNDA”. We now have the map, the template for logistics - and thanks to Charles Perrin, we have the “fundraising rules of the river” for this course (https://petebellengerchallenge.muchloved.com/Lifestories/666662192)

But as to whether objective 3 is achieved, this ‘Team Pete’ will leave future rowers to answer!…