Fundraising

As a sports club that has few consistent sources of income, fundraising events are extremely important to ensure we can purchase new equipment and keep our current facilities and equipment in good condition. We have held large one-off events in the past, such as the “Save Lancaster Uni Boat House” to help repair our boathouse after the flooding due to Storm Desmond in December 2015, which raised a staggering £3,720. We also run smaller fundraising events throughout the year, most notably our “24 hour erg”, which raises thousands of pounds to fund the club and chosen charities. You can find our donation page here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/giving/lancaster-university-boat-club-giving.

Our Annual 24 Hour Erg

Each year we conduct a 24 Hour Erg in name of that years chosen charity, splitting donations 50/50 with the organisation and the club. This is a real highlight of the year and an event that all club members get involved with, bringing together everyone for some truly important causes.

2024: Our most recent 24 Hour Erg took place on the 6th – 7th February in the name of Papyrus, the national Charity for the Prevention of Young Suicide, as well as ourselves. With suicide being the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK, and over 1800 young people taking their own lives every year, it is imperative we provide support. Being a university club, this cause was close to many members hearts, as we understand the importance of help being there when it’s needed most.

We had aimed to cover 700km – the distance to Henley and back (over 2 ergs in 24 hours on Alexandra Square) but ultimately smashed this goal, totalling a distance of 730.5km, at an average rate of 27, and a split of 1:58.2

Helping to provide non judgemental, unconditional support meant donations were truly lifesaving and we are so proud of the money we raised and the support provided by university students, staff, friends, family and so many more! We smashed our aim of £2000 raising over £3000 total for Papyrus and LUBC

2023: Our 24 Hour Erg in 2023 was to raise money and awareness for disability in sports. Donations went to the Dwarfs Sports Association UK in memory of one of our alumni, Jake Cocker, a coxswain for LUBC who sadly passed away before the recent Christmas. Thereby, the 2023 fundraiser was dedicated to him.

In Jake’s own words: “Sounds strange to say out loud… I’m 4ft2, and I have a condition called Pseudo-achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder which is characterised by short stature, or dwarfism, due to short arms and legs. I use crutches to get around on a daily basis, but generally my mobility is ok.
The reason it sounds strange to me has nothing about being embarrassed about it or wanting to hide from it, in fact I’ve learned to embrace it. It’s just that ‘being disabled’ is far down the list of ways I’d describe myself… If you have long hair, you don’t wake up every morning thinking ‘I have long hair’, it’s just part of who you are, it’s the same with my disability…
.. I’ve never known any different” (2018)

Jake’s condition meant that he recognised the struggle faced by those who have dwarfism within sports. We ultimately raised over our aim of £2000 to help the Dwarf Sport Association with their work in creating a more accessible environment in sport in his memory. After pushing hard and digging deep, we reached a distance of 711,370m with an average rate of 26 and split of 2:01.4

A message from the Club Captain

Since joining Lancaster University Boat Club in 2019, my experiences with the club have definitely been ones to remember. From racing down the Tyne to a top 10 finish at BUCS Head to then making it through a year of Covid and coming out the other side with some great race results, they have all been made possible by the great people around me and the facilities that the club offers.

A key reason this is possible is through the generous donations of Alumni and Castrum members who all play pivotal roles in allowing the club to stretch its limits by helping supply LUBC members with the best boats and blades they can offer.

Your donations will continue to aid the club, by helping us reach the target of purchasing a new boat, suitable for the likes of Marlow Regatta, Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regatta and replacing our older boats.

-Ben Hussey, 2021-22 Captain of the Lancaster University Boat Club