Charity
ambassador and retired military officer Phil Packer is on a mission to achieve
better mental health awareness, one rowing mile at a time.
The Row Britannia event founder and advocate for mental health and fitness visited the University of Greenwich to launch the university's Row Britannia 24-hour row-a-thon and mark University Mental Health Awareness Day.
Row Britannia, by The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT), is an inclusive mental health, fitness and wellbeing challenge that encourages teams to jump on a rowing machine to achieve their distance and fundraising goal.
Phil (pictured, centre) said: "Row Britannia started off as a personal, physical challenge with my sea row around the UK.
"This event has turned into something bigger than I could've imagined.
"University students and staff are at the heart of that to drive this cause forward.
"Row could turn into race. It could be cycle, swim, hand cycle, walk, jog run; to make it more inclusive cause that's what it's all about."
This year, 90 UK universities and colleges have signed up to participate in the challenge of rowing 2020 miles and raise £3,000 for Sport Relief and mental health awareness, by 13 March.
University's clinical exercise and physiology visiting lecturer, Jagdeep Matharoo (pictured, right) has been contributing to the university's rowing challenge, having already rowed 494 miles since the challenge began in January.
Jagdeep said: "Physical and mental health go hand-in-hand; exercise is great for your mind.
"I work across three of the university's campuses, so I've been rowing at whichever one I'm teaching at.
"In a society where it can still be difficult to be honest about mental health, I really hope that this will raise awareness and allow people to start to talk openly."
A variety of events for Mental Heath Awareness Day are running throughout the week, for students and staff to attend.
Anyone who is interested in getting involved in the university's event can add their rowing miles to the overall tally. There is a machine at the university's Dreadnought Building or you can use your local gym.
To get involved, make a donation or follow the team's progress, visit the website here or follow the @UniversityofGreenwich social media channels.
