6 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 113 2019
FROM THE SIDELINES
aving spent 15 years in the UK
Special Forces, John Davidson
knows all about danger but the
57-year-old veteran is now embarking on
the biggest challenge of his life - to row the
Atlantic single-handed. In December, John will
set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands
and attempt to row 5,000km to
Antigua, solo. His inspiration? To
raise funds for the My Name’
Doddie Foundation.
“Doddie is an icon of Scottish
rugby,” said John, “His battle
with Motor Neurone Disease
(MND) has been an inspiration
and having had the privilege of
meeting Doddie and seeing his
courage in the face of adversity,
he inspired me to test my courage
once again.”
Naming the endeavour The
Mad Giraffe Atlantic Row, after Bill McLaren’s
famous description of Doddie, John is under
no illusions as to how tough the two-month
voyage will be: “Rowing solo is so demanding.
I’ll be on the oars 16 hours a day while also
navigating, and when not rowing, I’ll be trying
to eat, sleep and maintain the boat. There’s
simply no room for error.”
John is aiming to raise £100,000 for Doddie’s
foundation. Support can come from multiple
sources such as personal donations to his Just
Giving page ‘Mad Giraffe Atlantic Row 2019’
and corporate sponsorship of his boat. John
also delivers training and inspirational speaking
engagements in return for donations.
Now, working with Genius Brewing, he’sholding a fundraising dinner at the Crieff Hydro
on 5 October. John will be joined by illustrious
speakers Dame Katherine Grainger, Team GB’s
most successful female Olympian; and former
Scotland captain Rob Wainwright.
“We’ll have 400 guests for an evening of
drinks, dinner and dancing,” John enthused.
“I’m so privileged to have the support of
Katherine and Rob. With five Olympic rowingmedals, Katherine is Britain’s most successful
female Olympian. She can certainly give me
some tips! And as a British and Irish Lion and
former team-mate of Doddie’s, Rob has some
great stories from the world of international
rugby.”
On the night, John will also be sharing some
of his experiences of life in the
Special Forces and what it’ll take
to row 5000km across the Atlantic
single-handed.
With only three months until he
hits the ocean, John is training
hard: “I’ve never rowed a boat
in my life and despite years in
the Special Forces, I know this is
going to be a huge physical and
mental challenge,” he said.
“But in the words of Hunter S.
Thompson, 'Anything that gets
your blood racing is probably
worth doing'. Roll on the Mad Giraffe Atlantic
Row!”Donate to John's Just Giving page -
Mad Giraffe Atlantic Row.Dinner tickets: geniusbrewing.com/mndH
ROW THE SEA
FOR MND
Dame Katherine Grainger Rob Wainwright6 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019
FROM THE SIDELINES