Thames Impala

We are supporting two charities for our Race the Thames event. The first one is called London Youth Rowing and the second on is called Free to be Kids.

LYR was founded by Jim Downing in 2004 in the hope that young people across London would have access to an otherwise traditionally niche sport and in turn help the rowing community become a more diverse, more inclusive environment.

Originally named, ‘Row East London’, our first employee was hired in 2005. We went on to launch the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships in 2007 and officially received charitable status in 2008. Today, LYR employs 10 full-time coaches, multiple part-time coaches and office staff to accommodate working with around 10,000 young people in schools, youth clubs and rowing clubs across London each year.

                is a growing London based charity supporting children & young people who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, and helping to create lasting change for vulnerable children's emotional health.

Free to be Kids works with disadvantaged children across London to rebuild self-esteem, boost resilience and to help explore challenging emotions and ways of managing. They do this via a range of therapeutic adventures & countryside based respite residentials, in all seasons, as well as through creative termtime afterschool groups.

Above all they believe that every child deserves to feel wanted, special and valued and to experience joy and adventure within their childhood. Free To Be is largely volunteer run and relies on the support of hundreds of like minded individuals each year.