EMPLOYEES at Worcester NPower took part in an oar-some rowing challenge along the River Severn that managed to raise thousands for charity.

Around 80 employees from the firm's Worcester and Solihull offices participated in the Paddle down the Severn event on Thursday, (July 7), raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Starting at Stourport Boat Club enthusiastic paddlers from both teams on twin hulled bell boats steered their way through a challenging 20 kilometre course on the country’s longest river, to the finishing point at Worcester Rowing Club.

Sue Warman, senior analyst at Npower’s Bridgwater Road site, was the team captain of the victorious Big Boats team, which completed the course in two hours 50 minutes, winning them the golden oar.

“The challenge was a lot of hard work but great fun, with eight in a boat it was easy to keep each other motivated," Sue said.

"Most of our team had sore arms and sore bottoms from the boat seats - but all the pain was worth it as we raised a fantastic amount."

In the run up to the challenge the team smashed their fundraising target out of the water, with each paddler exceeding their individual fundraising target of £50 to raise £6,500.

After the race Worcester Rowing Club invited the exhausted rowers to the club's boathouse for more fundraising, with hundreds of lights put up around the boathouse to celebrate loved ones as part of Macmillan's new fundraising campaign.

Collectively, with NPower matching the fundraising, an impressive £13,000 was raised.

Commercial developer Rebecca McClure added: “I lost a friend, Jack, to cancer and I know how much he and his family appreciated the support from his Macmillan nurse.

"At every opportunity, I get involved in fundraising as I want to help make sure that support is there for other people and their families that may need it in the future.”

Melanie Failes, the partnership manager from Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Congratulations to all the paddlers.

"This was a fantastic effort by all who took part, thank you for rowing to raise money to help people affected by cancer.

"All the money raised will go towards helping Macmillan ensure no one faces cancer alone.”

To make a donation to the charity visit macmillan.org.uk.