Oxfordshire brothers taking on 24-hour rowing challenge raising money for hospice in dads memory
They're raising money in memory of their dad who sadly passed away in June last year
Last updated 22nd Feb 2025
Two brothers from Oxfordshire will be starting a 24-hour rowing challenge today to raise money for a local hospice in memory of their dad who sadly passed away in June last year.
As a family they're hoping to raise over £12,000 for Sobell House through a number of different fundraisers.
"I'm going to try and see it more as an eating competition”
The brothers have set a target distance of 250km which is roughly the distance between Blenheim Palace, one of their dad’s favourite places, to Exmoor, where they often went on family holidays growing up.
Their father Dave spent his last few days at Sobell House and Steve says they want to fundraise for Sobell House hospice because, “the experience we've had with Sobell and for them to be able to carry on doing that for other people.
“Their work is vitally important for families and their loved ones to be able to deal with what is a horrible situation.”
Pete Ashman, 34, a personal trainer in Wallingford says, “my brother and I, and the rest of our family, are so appreciative of the last couple of days that he had there. Genuinely, it's not taken for granted.
“They were incredible, so it wasn't even a second thought that we would raise money for them.”
He added: “We turned up probably with not many clothes, no toothbrush or toothpaste and we don't have a bed to sleep in, but they were so accommodating for the six or seven of us that were there.
“To put my brother and I, and my stepbrother in one room, and have people with my dad - they couldn't have been any more accommodating.”
Steve Ashman, 31, also says he’s “excited more than anything” for the challenge.
He added: "I'm going to try and see it more as an eating competition, than a rowing competition, and just see how much I can eat in the 24 hours to keep me going.”
Their 24-hour indoor row is taking place at the Body Training Studio gym in Wallingford with the plan for them to row for 60 minutes each alternating for 24 hours.