Major Mick’s Fundraising Adventures on the Tintanic for Ukrainian Refugees

Retired army veteran, Mick Stanley has raised nearly £15,000 for Children on the Edge in his famous homemade boat, ‘The Tintanic’. 

In early 2022, 81-year-old retired army Major Mick Stanley was so moved when he saw the crisis unfolding in Ukraine that he decided to take to the water in his boat; 'The Tintanic', and raise money to support Ukrainian refugees. He’s been rowing to raise funds ever since. 

MAJOR MICK AND THE TINTANIC

Having lived in the West Sussex area since 1951, Major Mick particularly wanted to support a local charity. Using his homemade rowing boat, constructed from corrugated iron and adorned with flags and bunting, he has set out on a series of rowing challenges to support Children on the Edge since 2022, and is still going strong three years later.

He has raised over £80,000 for Children on the Edge and other charities after rowing hundreds of miles in his boat since 2020. He aims to reach £100,000.

Launching ‘The Tintanic’, Major Mick began his challenge to row 100 miles for Children on the Edge, on March 12th 2022, rowing along the Chichester Canal. 

Over the summer of that year, he rowed in various locations including the Regents Canal in London, the Beaulieu River in the New Forest, and the Medina River on the Isle of Wight.

“Three miles is as much as I can do in one go, which takes a couple of hours. So it’s not super fast but it’s something different and interesting for people to look at.”

In June 2022, he took part in the Jubilee weekend celebrations, rowing three miles along Regents Canal in London and attending the 'Big Jubilee Lunch' where he met HRH Prince Charles. 

In July that year, he also appeared on BBC One's Countryfile, highlighting local support for Ukrainian refugees and successfully crossed the Solent in ‘The Tintanic’, reaching 57 miles of his 100-mile goal. Mick reached his goal in October 2022, crossing the ‘finish line’ along the Grand Union Canal in London. He capped off the year with a festive row on December 14th, joined by Father Christmas.

Continuing the challenge in 2023 Determined to keep going, Major Mick resumed his rowing in 2023, starting with Easter weekend rows around Sussex. He participated in the King’s Coronation celebrations in May, rowing along the Canal in Ladbroke Grove and at Chichester Yacht Club.

Major Mick has been recognised for his fundraising efforts. He was awarded the Points of Light Award by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in August 2023 and won ‘Creative Fundraiser of the Year’ at the JustGiving Awards in September after winning a public vote. 

“I am very surprised and honoured to have been put forward for a Point of Light Award, this indeed makes me feel humble when I know that there are so many individuals doing good work in raising money for worthy causes. I am privileged to be able to raise money for ‘Children on the Edge’. The organisation is run by a group of young, enthusiastic and dedicated staff who I know will make the most of every pound I raise.” 

Major Mick continued rowing around the South coast in 2024, raising funds and awareness for our work with Ukrainian refugees in Romania. 

His dedication and unique fundraising efforts have garnered significant local and national media attention, and he has raised an astonishing £21,198 for Children on the Edge so far.

We’d like to thank Major Mick for his inventive and relentless spirit in raising funds for our work. We have been blown away by his energy and dedication to his challenge and we have loved supporting him on his adventures. He’s made a huge impact to our work; we salute you Major Mick!