On Saturday 20 January, CrossFit Iron Duke raised an incredible £12,811 for Solent Mind and ReORG at their rowing challenge event. Joined by 36 teams, including our Minds Matters Rowers, one half of the CrossFit Iron Duke owners, Kerry Cooley, reflected on the day and why they chose to raise money for us... 

We first fundraised for Mind and Solent Mind back in 2019, when we held a charity 24 hour WODathon.  The reason behind choosing Mind for this event at the time, is because we understood that people's mental health issues are 24 hours a day. 

At CrossFit Iron Duke we have always strived to create a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental place where members can come in and train, or just come in for a coffee, see a friendly face or two and just be themselves without any fear of repercussions or feelings of guilt. 

Many of our members suffer with their mental health and these refer to CrossFit Iron Duke as their ‘happy place’. 

Solent Mind was the charity nominated and chosen by our members for our 2024 Charity Row, alongside ReORG who we are a proud supporter of.  

We value the work that they provide in Hampshire and deeply value the help and support they have provided to our members over the years. 

36 teams of four people rowed 100,000m, to hit a target of 3.6 million meters whilst raising money for ReORG and Solent Mind.  The goal was to raise £10,000 which would be split between the two charities. 

The incredible teams from CrossFit Iron Duke and also teams made up from non-members from outside the four walls of CrossFit Iron Duke, rowed an amazing 3.6 million meters. 

The quickest team took six and a half hours to complete their 100k, and the final team completed their 100k row in eight and a half hours, which also included our adaptive athlete, Elizabeth. 

There were also three rowers that were used for people to drop in, row and donate to the charities.  Two members and one coach who were unable to make the event also rowed in Bahrain, Gibraltar and at home respectively. 

That took our overall total for the day to 3,741,000 meters rowed.  Blowing our target out of the water by 141,000 meters. In addition, there was 50k clocked up on a bike, and 21k skied by one of our coaches brothers in Vancouver, Canada. 

The monies raised to date from this event is currently standing at a phenomenal £12,720 with donations still coming in. 

Crews from Blue Watch and Blue Watch from Cosham Fire Station showed their support for the row.  Due to some last minute ‘assistance’ for two teams, our member Rich called upon some of his work mates to ‘help out’. Jake and Lee joined two teams, and Craig, Phil ‘Larry’ and Kev also showed their support by popping in and rowing 30k between them, whilst Kev entertained the numerous visitors to the fire truck whilst being looked after with tea and donuts from The Bakehouse in Denmead.  

Another Hampshire & Isle of Wight Firefighter Stu (alongside the previously mentioned Craig, Stu was part of the Minds Matter Atlantic Row for Solent Mind and the Firefighters Charity), was drafted in to cover another place in a team as a team member was called out to Bahrain for work.  

Support was also given from local companies: Big Crocodile Sports Clothing and Accessories for printing our t-shirts, Bishops Printers for our nameboards, A1 Loo Hire (Waterlooville) for additional toilets, Concept 2 for lending us additional rowers, The Bakehouse in Denmead for providing donuts and brownies, Cydnee Brook Photography and 16 Regiment Royal Artillery. This is what you call a community working together! 

Do you feel inspired to raise money for better mental health in Hampshire? Fundraise for Solent Mind.