English press release. See the German version here.

Two Brits will tomorrow depart on a mission to row the entire length of the Danube for charity as the European river returns to normal levels after the worst flooding for 500 years.

Jon Cowie, 31, from London and Mark Hughes, 32 from Edinburgh, are the first rowers ever to attempt the 3,200km journey, which will take four weeks to complete and see them pass through ten countries between the Black Forest and the Black Sea.

Jon and Mark’s epic adventure is set to raise thousands of pounds for two small UK-based charities: Cardiac Risk in the Young and Friends of Navajeevana, which help young people with heart conditions and disabled people in Sri Lanka respectively. It will culminate with them rowing through the night across the Black Sea to arrive in Istanbul in early July

The two lads were supposed to set off a week ago but had to postpone their journey due to the unprecedented flooding affecting central Europe. Since Monday, Jon and Mark have been stuck in the German town of Ulm, where the local rowing club have welcomed them with traditional Bavarian hospitality: beers, drinking games and a stay in a Bavarian castle.

“Our friends in Ulm have shown us incredible hospitality and we will be sorry to wave them goodbye,” said Mark Hughes, a neurosurgeon at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.

“But with 3200km still ahead of us we are itching to get underway now. The Danube is Europe’s second longest river so we will need to cover at least 100km per day to remain on target.

“Covering the huge distance and dealing with the recent terrible flooding is only going to part of the challenge. We’re also going to have to master river and ocean rowing techniques, avoid the massive ships that pass down the Danube, and navigate through numerous locks and hydroelectric facilities. A mere paddle really!”

The two lads, who between them have over 20 years’ rowing experience, competed against each other as teenagers for Scotland and Wales. They became friends at Edinburgh University where they were both active members of the EUBC rowing club.

“We’ve been pals for years and bonded over our hatred of early mornings rowing on Edinburgh’s Union Canal”, said Jon Cowie, an accountant at the Royal Bank of Scotland in London. “But spending all day rowing on the mighty Danube for a month will test our teamwork to the limit.”

Jon and Mark will sleep, cook and row aboard Fight and Spirit, the 7 metre ocean rowing boat, dubbed the “Whisky-Boat”, that will be their home for 35 days. To keep their spirits and strength up when they are on the water, the lads have stocked the boat full of supplies, including 150 porridge bars, 50 packets of super-noodles, 10 litres of sun cream, and the all-important warming dram of whisky, helpfully provided by their main sponsor, Ardbeg.

Jon and Mark have chosen charities close to their own hearts as the beneficiaries of their intrepid mission: Mark became a supporter of Cardiac Risk in the Young after his own cousin died tragically aged just 30 from a heart attack and Jon recently helped found Friends of Navajeevana to support disability projects in Sri Lanka.

“It’s a great feeling that we’re using our muscle-power to help two fantastic charities,” added Jon.

To donate to Jon and Mark’s chosen charities and support their ‘oar-some’ adventure, please visit http://www.rowthedanube.com/charities.

Notes to Editors

• Jonathan Cowie is 31 and lives in Islington, North London. Originally from Dumfries in South-West Scotland, Jon studied law at Edinburgh University before moving to London to work at RBS.
• Jon learned to row at Nithsdale A.R.C. winning the National Rowing Championships of Great Britain twice, and rowed for Scotland 1997-2000.
• Mark Hughes is 31 and lives in Canonmills Edinburgh. Originally from Hammersmith in London he is completing a PhD in neurosurgery at the University of Edinburgh.
• Mark learned to row in Hammersmith at Latymer Upper School. In 1999 he rowed for Wales and joined the Edinburgh University Boating Club in 2000.
• Fight and Spirit is a 500kg ocean rowing boat generously donated for the challenge by Mike Whipp. Her berth is the same size as a small two-man tent.
• Friends of Navajeevana is a UK registered charity that supports disability projects such as schools, prosthetics and rehabilitation in Sri Lanka through its partner Navajeevana, based in Tangalle on the Sri Lanka south coast. For more information see http://friendsofnavajeevana.org
• Cardiac Risk in the Young is a UK registered charity that supports previously fit and healthy young people suddenly diagnosed with life-threatening heart conditions for more information, see http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/index.htm

-ENDS-

For more information, or to arrange an interview with either Jon or Mark, please contact:

Leonora Merry: 07968 974589, leonora.merry@yahoo.co.uk

Sophie Hardach: 07919 944 182, sophie_maria@hotmail.com