For these last few days I’ve had the words of Chris Webster, Pete’s friend and colleague from Brighton College, ringing in my 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!”

It sums up the feelings of Team Pete through this extraordinary event!

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!

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. I know I speak on behalf of the whole of Team Pete when I say that objective 1 was achieved. It was the perfect tribute to him which will live long in all our memories! 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!

Neither could we have imagined the generosity and support of the hundreds of donors to this event. 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. Yet at the time of writing, nearly 600 donors have contributed well over £120,000. At 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 the third and final objective? 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

This inaugural edition has even proven it can be completed when the Thames is officially closed due to strong stream!

But as to whether objective 3 is achieved, I leave that for future rowers to answer!…