Nothing to do over winter? With no international rowing commitments winners of 6 consecutive Kings Cups for NSW and SUBC legends Sam Loch and Matt Ryan decided to put their energy into raising some money for a special cause by completing a tandem 24 hour ergo, and have set an astonishing new world record – 380.274 kilometres, that’s 1:53.6 per 500m, smashing their predecessors record set by Stefan Verhoeven and Matthias Auer of Germany by 13.438km! Matt and Sam have always kept an eye on these records and have previously talked about doing something together – as they were not going for selection in 2013; they thought they would attempt this record. So far Matt and Sam have managed to raise nearly $20,000 for The Leukaemia Foundation – about $15,000 in online donations and supporters at the site tipped around $4,000 into the collection bucket on the day! To add to the proceeds, 776BC Clothing ran a Pop-Up Shop at the record attempt and donated 10% of sales to the Foundation. With their original goal set at $10,000 not only have they shattered the world record, but they have managed to clear their donations target by a mile or two as well!
The Leukaemia Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the care and cure of patients and families living with leukaemia, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. The Foundation provides support services such as transport, ‘home-away-from-home’ accommodation and emotional support free of charge to patients and carers. They don’t receive on-going government funding and rely on the generosity of businesses and individuals who donate to the organisation, like Matt and Sam.
“Special thanks go to our corporate and technical support Eddie Jesus Sanchez Inostroza, Kate McKenzie-McHarg, Cameron Mckenzie-Mcharg, Hydralyte and Sam Quinlan.” – Sam Loch.
“Just wanted to thank everyone for their support over the past 24 hours. It wasn’t the easiest thing we have under taken but having such great support got us through. To the crew who stayed strong for the whole event Samson Loch and I are forever grateful. Sorry if I have left anyone out. “– Matt Ryan.
On behalf of everyone at Sydney Uni Boat Club we would like to firstly congratulate both Sam and Matt on their fantastic achievement and say how proud we are of them.
To raise such an enormous amount of money for an amazing foundation and to set such a strong record is a wonderful achievement.
New South Wales supporters will be encouraged to see two of our greatest ever Kings Cup rowers in great form and hopefully thinking of going around again for both the Kings Cup and national selection. Matt and Sam are two of the three NSW rowers (the third is Fergus Pragnell) who have won six consecutive King’s Cups.
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