Ex-Chiefs players on half-million

Two former professional rugby players have rowed more than 500,000 metres (310 miles) each in just over two weeks – as part of a challenge to raise money for charity.

Sam Blythe and Shane Kingsland, who both played for Exeter Chiefs, want to row a million metres each as part of Janurow, which ends on January 31st.

After starting on New Year’s Day they have been rowing every day and have now passed their halfway target of 500 kilometres.

They have also recruited members of the public to help them reach their overall target of more than 11 million metres – the distance to the Philippines. More than 4.5 million metres have been rowed so far.

The event is raising money for global children’s charity Plan UK – which is helping people in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan – and Dream-A-Way, which helps people with physical and learning disabilities in Devon, Cornwall and the Scilly Isles.

“The community’s support has been brilliant,” says former Chiefs captain Sam, 37.

“The public rowing events have been great, with lots of donations. It’s also a new environment and people to talk to, which really helps pass the time rowing,” he adds.

The father-of-five says it has been tricky fitting in hours of rowing each day around his job and family life.

“The rowing has been a strain but I am only suffering for 31 days to do this - others are suffering literally every day of their lives,” he adds.

Sam, 37, came up with the idea and then recruited former team-mate Shane.

They will both be rowing at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens in Budleigh Salterton on Saturday between 11am and 2pm.

There is still time to take part in Janurow. People who want to get involved get a branded T-shirt and a rowing log to keep track of their progress.

For more information go to the Janurow website: http://www.janurow.org/

For more information on Plan’s work or to make a donation call 0800 526 848 or visit www.plan-uk.org