The East Anglian housebuilder is sponsoring The Big Oardeal andattended their Charity Ball at the weekend, which raised thousands of pounds as part of the challenge that will see those taking part face extreme conditions and unpredictable weather in the world’s toughest row for charity.
The Big Ordeal, whose team includes two dads from East Anglia, must row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in a bid to raise £100,000 for their chosen charities, Blue Marine Foundation, Cambridge Children’s Hospital, Challenge Wales and Norfolk Community Foundation.
One of their main benefactors, Denbury Homes was invited to the team of rowers’ Charity Ball on Saturday 17th which raised funds for each charitable organization. Joshua Hopkins, Martin Bailey, Sara Raven and Robert Eburne represented the local housebuilder at the black-tie event, which saw thousands of pounds accumulated at its charity auction.
Joshua Hopkins, Denbury’s Land Director, said: “The charities that the rowers are fundraising for are important to us at Denbury Homes and the communities we develop in. With our base in East Anglia, we have close connections to the sea, and The Big Oardeal share our passions for marine conservation as well as preserving these finely balanced ecosystems and coastal economies for future generations. We care about saving the world’s oceans and The Big Oardeal’s support of our partner, Blue Marine Foundation resonates with us.”
Norfolk-based Richard Janes and James Bracey have teamed up with John Solosy and John Ashton to form the four-man crew gearing up for the Atlantic. Though rowing experience is limited between them, they have previous military connections and are rowing for causes that are dear to their hearts, to protect oceans, build a hospital, help young people, and nurture local communities. Their dedication and strong mindsets place them in good stead to raise these vital funds.
Joshua continued: “This huge challenge will help raise vital funds and make a difference to the communities that are so familiar to us at Denbury Homes. We pride ourselves on not just building homes, but by helping build thriving communities and supporting those groups and charities striving to help others. We work with the Norfolk Community Foundation who help us identify causes and projects where we can make a real difference and help people in need, so The Big Ordeal’s mighty endeavour is extremely inspirational to us.”
The crew will commence their adventure of a lifetime in December 2023, starting from San Sebastián de La Gomera in the Canary Islands and finishing in Antigua. The committed team will row 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and hope to complete the journey in roughly 35 days, whilst encountering waves up to 20 feet high and Mother Nature’s unforeseeable weather.
To find out how you can support the team, visit https://www.the-big-oardeal.com/. For more information about the Denbury Charitable Fund and its partnership with Blue Marine Foundation and Norfolk Community Foundation, visit the charity pages on the Denbury Homes website: https://www.denburyhomes.co.uk/charitable-fund/
