A TEAM of kind-hearted Inverclyde boatmen have raked in thousands of pounds for charity by completing a four-hour rowing challenge on the River Clyde.
Staff from Mirren Marine, who support the berthing of cruise ships in Greenock, were recently joined by Clydeport colleagues in a fundraising effort in aid of the RNLI, Ardgowan Hospice and Cash For Kids.
A total of 14 team members worked together to row a two-tonne boat more than 14 miles from Braehead to Greenock’s James Watt Dock Marina.
Mirren Marine owner Ronnie Doolan said: “It was a spare boat we had sitting around that wasn’t doing much.
“We came up with the idea of using it for a charity event.
“I put the word out to ask if anyone was up for raising some money for local charities, and the next thing I knew, we had 14 people.
“The boat was an old ship’s lifeboat, so it had an engine which we took out to make it a rowing boat.
“It’s yellow, so we thought it was a bit like a banana boat going up the Clyde.”
Throughout the challenge, the team received support from people on the banks of the river.
Ronnie, who lives in Skelmorlie, added: “Surprisingly to us, there were so many people following us.
“People saw us off at Braehead and then there were people at the Erskine Bridge taking pictures.
“We got to Port Glasgow and there was about 40 or 50 people at Coronation Park, all shouting and cheering.
“We got to James Watt Dock and I couldn’t believe it.
“There must’ve been well over 100 people cheering and waving.
"We really weren’t expecting that.”
Ronnie and his team of rowers raised a total of £4,800, which has been split evenly between the three chosen charities.
Despite the row being a tough physical challenge, they hope to host a ‘bigger and better’ fundraiser next year.
Ronnie said: “It was hard work. There were plenty of blisters after it.
“We’ve decided we’re going to do this every year now.
“We had 11 or 12 sponsors this year, and so many other companies have come to us and said they would also have happily made a donation.
“I feel next year it could double in size.
"Hopefully people will be looking for this yellow boat being rowed down the Clyde every July.”
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