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Naomi Thankful for Rotary’s Great Thames Row Support

Naomi Thankful for Rotary’s Great Thames Row Support

London 2012 Paralympic gold medal winner and associate member of the Rotary Club of Marlow Bridge, Naomi Riches MBE recently completed her toughest challenge yet – The Great Thames Row. Naomi completed the 165 mile row from Lechlade to Gravesend Royal Pier in a time of 47 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds, becoming the […]

London 2012 Paralympic gold medal winner and associate member of the Rotary Club of Marlow Bridge, Naomi Riches MBE recently completed her toughest challenge yet – The Great Thames Row.

Naomi completed the 165 mile row from Lechlade to Gravesend Royal Pier in a time of 47 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds, becoming the first woman ever to row the entire navigable River Thames.

There were highs and lows for Naomi, from the calm waters in the twisty upper reaches, to rowing against the tide for the last few miles on the wide, industrial river.

Naomi was supported by hundreds of people along the route, including Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland President Eve Conway and fellow members of the Rotary Club of Marlow Bridge.

Speaking about Rotary’s support at a brief stop in Marlow, Naomi said: “I absolutely love Rotary, they’ve had a massive amount to do with this challenge. They’re just so willing and so passionate to help people achieve what they want to achieve. I want to be involved with that and those sorts of people.”

Naomi retired from competitive rowing in 2013, but was keen to find new experiences to “give something back” and in 2014, became Patron of IN-vision, a charity close to her heart.

IN-vision aims to raise awareness and funds for an eye condition called nystagmus, which affects around one in every 1,000 children.

Naomi, who has nystagmus and cone dystrophy herself, felt that becoming Patron gave her the reason she needed to take on such a daunting challenge and turn her ambition into reality.

Naomi continued: “More than anything else in my life I wanted to be known as Naomi Riches and not be defined by my disability. I want to be known for what I am able to do, not what I cannot do.”

Everyone at Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland would like to congratulate Naomi on her fantastic achievement. To see more of Naomi’s row, check out the interview below.

Published: Tuesday 4th October 2016

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