Key Takeaways
- A rowing challenge to raise awareness for children’s cancer care will occur in June 2025, featuring 12 rowers aiming for a world record.
- The initiative supports the PB Active project, which provides tailored exercise therapy using digital tools for children with cancer.
- Donations are being collected to support the challenge, with an aim to raise £169,000 for children’s cancer care programs.
Rowing Challenge to Support Children’s Cancer Care
During the Digital Health Rewired event held on March 18-19, 2025, a world-record rowing challenge named the Thanks a Million Challenge was announced. This initiative aims to raise awareness for children undergoing cancer care by having a team of 12 rowers attempt to row one million meters non-stop in June. The event will benefit the PB Active project, a program by the UK charity Momentum in Fitness, which offers customized exercise therapy for children receiving treatment at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust’s Southampton General Hospital.
The PB Active program utilizes digital tracking tools to personalize exercise therapies, helping young patients manage treatment side effects and enhance their quality of life. Research indicates that monitored physical activity can lead to better treatment outcomes in pediatric oncology.
Dr. Gihan Ganesh, an anaesthetist at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and the captain of the rowing team, shared that he was inspired to lead this challenge after witnessing his daughter’s cancer journey. He emphasized the importance of physical and mental resilience in fighting cancer and views this challenge as a tribute to that strength. “This rowing challenge, born from my own limited exercise during her treatment, aims to bring much-needed positivity and support to other families,” he explained.
Feedback from parents highlights the impact of the PB Active program. One parent of a 14-year-old patient stated, “This was the most effective intervention we had and it made the biggest difference to her.” The child is now able to walk unassisted and is returning to her normal activities, underscoring the transformative effects of this initiative.
At the Rewired 2025 event, attendees had the opportunity to engage with the rowing team at CardMedic’s stand. They were invited to experience live demonstrations and try to match the world record pace on Concept2 rowing machines. Rachael Grimaldi, founder and CEO of CardMedic, noted that the challenge exemplifies how technology and human determination can combine to improve patient outcomes. She remarked, “The Thanks a Million Challenge embodies this spirit, using digital platforms to raise awareness while supporting physical interventions that make a tangible difference in children’s cancer care.”
The world record attempt is scheduled from June 3-6, 2025, at London Paddington Station, with an ambitious goal to row one million meters in under 61 hours, 58 minutes, and 41 seconds. The fundraising goal is set at £169,000, which will provide £1,000 for each day Dr. Ganesh’s daughter underwent treatment for a rare pelvic tumor. Donations can be made through the official JustGiving page, and digital health organizations interested in supporting the challenge are encouraged to contact the team via the challenge’s website.
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