Row, row, row your boat across the Channel to raise funds for Diabetes UK

Nine year old, Ellie Bracken from Marlborough is raising funds for Diabetes UK by rowing 33.3 kilometres – the distance across the Channel to France – on the family’s rowing machine.

Ellie, who is a Year 4 pupil at St Francis School, Pewsey, had the idea of raising money for Diabetes UK because her 11 year old cousin Evie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes three years ago.

Lockdown prevented Ellie and her family from travelling to France for their annual skiing trip.  “I don’t have an aeroplane-machine at home so I couldn’t get sponsored for virtually flying there but my dad does have a rowing-machine, so I thought I’d use that instead!” she explained.

Ellie has been rowing between 250 and 2,500 metres a day. She hopes to complete the distance by Friday July 3. Celebrations will then include speaking French for the day and eating lots of her favourite crepes which must contain orange curd. And Ellie does not intend to stop there. Once she’s cracked the Channel, she’s eyeing up the Nile for her next fundraising challenge!  

Ellie’s mum, Abigail, told marlborough.news, “I am very proud of Ellie and so impressed. It was all her own idea. She is getting to be a very good rower.”

Phaedra Perry, Regional Head Diabetes UK South West, said: “Our much-needed work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our incredible fundraisers, so we are delighted that Ellie has chosen to tackle this wonderful challenge for us.

The money raised will help fund ground-breaking research, care services and campaigns that can change the lives of those who, like Ellie’s cousin Evie, live with diabetes.”

Ellie’s fundraising page can be found at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Abigail-Bracken2.

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. If not managed well, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications. With the right treatment, knowledge and support, people living with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life.

To find out more information on fundraising for Diabetes UK go to: www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/fundraising-events