The Rotary Club has called on schools across Marlow to help Paralympic gold medallist, Naomi Riches, in her plight to become the fastest woman to row 165 miles along the Thames.

After the rower became an associate member of the new Rotary Club of Marlow Bridge in May and provided years of support for the charity, The Rotary has pledged to help Naomi achieve her goal.

Rotary in the Thames Valley has launched the ‘My 165 Challenge’, aiming to get at least 165 primary schools to create their very own 165 challenge and support Naomi’s Great Thames Row.

Children across the town are being encouraged to come up with their own task, and write to Naomi explaining what they have done to be in with a chance of winning £100 for their school and a change to meet the Paralympian.

Naomi, who brought back gold after London’s 2012 Paralympics, plans to complete the challenge in under 50 hours – with no sleep - kicking off from Lechlade on Saturday, September 17 and finishing at Gravesend.

The mammoth mission aims to raise awareness and money for Naomi’s patron charity IN- vision – a charity dedicated to researching eye condition Infantile Nystagmus, which she was diagnosed with at just 2 months old.

Naomi said: “More than anything else in my life I wanted to be known as Naomi Riches and not be defined by my disability.

“My purpose for this row is not only to raise funds for a charity close to my heart, but to celebrate ability.”

For more information on the Great Thames Row go to http://in-vision.org.uk/the-great-thames-row/