On Saturday 16 September, Kids Matter will be taking part in London’s Great River Race for the first time!

The Great River Race has become a tradition that dates back to 1988, and started with 61 boats crewed by a bunch of enthusiasts ranging from young scouts to hardened offshore rowing veterans. Today, the race remains fun, festive and appeals to every level of competitor, from dedicated athletes who come every year to beat their records to those who simply enjoy laughter, fancy dress and making money for their charity.

The Great River Race runs for 21.6 miles, from Millwall to Richmond, passing under 28 London bridges. The route is special for us as Richmond is where Kids Matter was founded and Millwall is where our first and longest standing partnership is. In celebration of our journey as an organisation, we have put together a team of bold, brave, superstar rowers, including members of our passionate Kids Matter staff team and amazing Kids Matter friends like football legend Graeme Le Saux.

Typically, the race has 300 crews taking part (with over 2,500 competitors) and is an international event with competitors from America, Australia, and many European countries. Renowned for its enjoyment for competitor and spectator alike, we would love to invite you to get involved! Here’s how:

There will be a Kids Matter stand so please do to come along to the event, say hello and cheer us on. Any and all encouragement will be much appreciated!

Sponsor our team by clicking on our JustGiving page, and we would be equally grateful if you would spread the word about our fundraising efforts on your social media channels (sharing our JustGiving link, for example) and in conversation with friends.

We are excited to raise money for the coming year in such a meaningful and fun way, and hope to see you there! If you would like more information about the race and/or how to support us, please get in touch at info@kidsmatter.org.uk