Six York soldiers stage charity rowing marathon (From York Press)

Six York soldiers stage charity rowing marathon

9:52am Monday 31st March 2008

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THE OXFORD and Cambridge boat race had nothing on six soldiers who undertook a 24-hour rowing marathon in York.

Sgt Billy McKay, a training instructor based at Strensall, and five of his troop, spent Friday and Saturday on two rowing machines in Asda at Monks Cross.

Each man rowed for 30 minutes, had an hour's rest and then jumped back on the machine.

The rowathon was in aid of The Force's Children's Trust (FCT) which helps children who have had a parent killed while on an operational tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the last six years more than 250 members of the British Armed Forces have been killed in these two countries alone.

Billy said: "What the charity does is try and bring some of these children together for a day-out, enabling them to meet other children in the same heart-breaking position as themselves.

"The FCT also, by reason of its aims and size, has the flexibility and ability to make decisions and offer help as needed, with minimum fuss and consequent time-loss."

The six men trained for three months for the rowathon and raised more than £2,000. They also plan to take part in the Hull half-marathon to raise even more funds.

Donations can be made by logging on to www.justgiving.com/billymckay

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