Two British ultra-distance rowing records were set and almost £10,000 was raised for a cancer charity at a pub near Amersham last week.

Around 200 people gathered at The Plough in Winchmore Hill on Sunday March 20 to lend support to the 100,000 metre challenge, organised by Ben Hobbs.

The group set the records for the first large mixed team aged 40-49 and 50-59 to each complete the distance on a Concept 2 rowing machine.

Mr Hobbs, 43, was inspired by his friend Gabrielle Harris, 46, from Stoke Mandeville, who has a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

So far the event has raised over £9,200 for Target Ovarian Cancer – smashing their original target of £5,000 – and now they have their sights set on five figures.

Gabrielle said: “It was absolutely brilliant, better than I could have possibly expected.

“The atmosphere was great, there was such a strong energy. It was all about living and it was really inspiring.

“I managed to row 1,000 metres – and I felt every bit of it.”

Mr Hobbs said: “It was wonderful to be able to organise something which everyone could play a part in.

“It was great that so many people came to show their love and support.”

Gabrielle, who has a husband and two young children, was diagnosed in October 2015 but after 18 rounds of chemotherapy and a hysterectomy, she was given the all clear.

Unfortunately, having been free of ovarian cancer for nine months, it returned in January 2016 and Gabrielle is currently on a second round of chemotherapy treatment.

Target Ovarian Cancer say that 46 per cent of women will live just five years after being diagnosed but - if diagnosed at the earliest stage – the chance of surviving at least five years doubles to 90 per cent.

She admits to having some “dark days” and wrote on her blog back in February: “I am desperate to see my children get through school, go to university and most importantly desperate not to break their tender little hearts.

“They are too young to have no Mummy and the thought of that makes me totally and utterly, heartbreakingly desperate to live. So that is what I intend to do - we just need a cure.”

The mother of two says she now feels more positive and is trying not to “sweat the small stuff”.

“My message to other people in my position is that it is not all bad,” she added.

“It takes time to adjust but you need to focus on the good things – the love, support and attention.

“And then you need to keep hoping. With cancer there is always hope.

“My motto is when life gives you lemonade, find some who life gave them vodka and then you’ve got a party!”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/TeamGabrielle.