Blueprint Operations, a sister brand to leading gaming company Merkur, has made a significant £5,000 contribution to ROW4MND, an extraordinary four-year ocean rowing mission aimed at raising funds and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND).
The donation, made through the Merkur Community Programme, provides crucial early support for the ambitious campaign.
The ROW4MND challenge was inspired by the courageous battles of rugby legends Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir with the disease.
A team of four dedicated rowers, Mike Bates, Matthew Parker, Aaron Kneebone, and Liz Wardley—has committed to undertaking four full-scale ocean rows in four consecutive years, a feat never attempted before.
Their goal is to “keep banging the drum” for a cure and contribute to an ambitious £57 million fundraising target, a figure derived from the former players’ iconic shirt numbers (5 and 7). The campaign supports three leading charities: the MND Association, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and Leeds Hospitals Charity.
Mike Bates, the founder of ROW4MND, emphasized that unlike other charity adventures, this mission puts the cause first. He stated, “The ocean rows are our sacrifice, our way of keeping the conversation alive and of raising the funds needed to help scientists find a cure.”
He expressed immense gratitude for the support from Blueprint, noting, “A project of this scale requires serious backing… Their contribution allows us to direct more of our resources where it matters most – towards finding a cure for MND.”
Andy Tipple, Managing Director at Blueprint Operations, conveyed the company’s pride in supporting the challenge. “Their dedication is nothing short of extraordinary and exactly the kind of community-driven inspiration we champion through our Merkur Community programme,” he said.
The donation is part of the Merkur Community Programme, which has raised over £278,000 for 114 different groups since its launch in January 2024.
