The members of Elland Band are putting in the last few weeks of intensive training ahead of their marathon row across Lake Windemere to help raise funds to build a long overdue brand new bandroom.

Fantastic response

MD and Cox, Sam Harrison told 4BR: "We've had a fantastic response to our request for volunteers to take part in the challenge on the 24th June, which involves crews of four rowing conventional rowing boats from Ambleside (Water Head) to Lakeside and returning — a total distance of around 21 miles, the same distance as rowing the English Channel!"

A similar event staged several years ago involving just 2 boats raised around £2000 and this year the band hopes to raise £3,000 or more towards their bandroom appeal.

...involves crews of four rowing conventional rowing boats from Ambleside (Water Head) to Lakeside and returning — a total distance of around 21 miles, the same distance as rowing the English Channel!Sam Harrison

Female crew

This year five crews are participating, four will be covering the full distance whilst the all-female crew will row from Amblseside to Bowness and back.

The five crews will leave Ambleside around 9.00am with the four boats that are doing the full distance expected to return some six hours later.