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Row the Amazon: from Cambridge to Brazil

26 June 2013

The article at a glance

Cambridge Judge Business School academic and University rowing coach to row the length of the Amazon in six weeks Dr Mark de …

Cambridge Judge Business School academic and University rowing coach to row the length of the Amazon in six weeks

Dr Mark de Rond, Reader in Strategy & Organisation at Cambridge Judge Business School, and Anton Wright, Chief Coach, Clare College and Coach, University Lightweights will row the entire length of the Amazon in September of this year. Mark is joining fellow oarsman Anton Wright in his attempt to row the river’s 2,200 miles unsupported, and, if they’re successful, they are likely to be the first in history to have achieved this feat.

They aim to start rowing in Peru on 1 September 2013, with the goal of reaching the Brazilian coast six weeks later. Mark has spent several years observing and researching teams of people in difficult circumstances, and has decided it’s time to experience firsthand what an endeavour like this will yield by joining Anton on his expedition.

The duo are planning to produce a feature-length documentary as part of the effort and Mark is aiming for the experience to feed into his future executive education teaching at Cambridge Judge Business School, as well as feeding in to his own research.

There will be an opportunity to view the boat at Cambridge Judge Business School on 27 June 2013. The School is hosting a drinks reception from 16:45-17:45, where Mark and Anton will also give a short talk on their row.

As part of their effort they will be raising money for Leonard Cheshire Disability, a charity supporting disabled people in the UK as well as in over 50 countries worldwide. They will also be designing an educational package for Cambridge-based primary schools in order for them to learn about the Amazon.

Organisations sponsoring Mark and Anton include:

  • ADEC Marine
  • Cambridge Judge Business School
  • Clare College Boat Club
  • Executive Education at Cambridge Judge Business School
  • Gitzo
  • Grey Dog Tea
  • JL Racing
  • The Møller Centre, Cambridge
  • The Stanhill Foundation
  • Voyage Manager

The Møller Centre recently hosted a barbecue for their clients where they were able to view the boat and learn about the row.

To attend the event at Cambridge Judge Business School on 27 June 2013 please contact [email protected].

Visit the Row the Amazon website

Dr Mark de Rond Dr Mark de Rond is a Reader in Strategy & Organisation at Cambridge Judge Business School and a Fellow of Darwin College, University of Cambridge. Mark’s research interests include studying people by living with them under similar conditions, to try and understand how and why their world makes sense (to them). Mark’s fieldwork has included combat surgeons in Afghanistan, elite rowers, and comedians. Subject-wise, his research focuses specifically on: the experience of being human in collaborative high-performance environments; the human imagination of human importance in strategy; the possibility and scope of strategic choice and causal explanations of why things are as they are and not otherwise in a world of (mostly) unique events. Visit Mark’s faculty webpage

Anton Wright Anton Wright is Head Coach/Boatman for Clare College, Cambridge and Coach for the University Lightweights at the University of Cambridge. He is an active rower and adventurer. Anton has undertaken several previous endeavours and they include the Great River Amazon Raft Race; rowing across the Irish Sea and an Atlantic sailing crossing.

Leonard Cheshire Disability Leonard Cheshire Disability supports thousands of disabled people both in the UK and in more than 50 other countries. They help people with physical impairments, learning difficulties and long-term health conditions, as well as their carers, friends and families. The needs and aspirations of disabled people are at the heart of what they do. By providing services and helping everyone to understand disability and combat discrimination, they aim to remove the barriers that can stop people with disabilities from pursuing their goals and living their lives to the full. Visit the Leonard Cheshire Disability website

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