MP Rupert Lowe Donates After Mistaking Charity Rowers for Migrants

Independent MP Rupert Lowe has acknowledged that he wrongly reported a boat spotted off Great Yarmouth as carrying “illegal migrants”, prompting HM Coastguard to contact the occupants. The vessel was in fact an ocean-rowing craft crewed by ROW4MND, a four-person team attempting to row from Land’s End to John o’ Groats to raise money for motor neurone disease research. After the coastguard confirmed the rowers’ identity, Lowe said he would donate £1,000 to their fundraising effort but “made no apologies” for remaining vigilant about small-boat arrivals. The crew, which includes former Royal Marine and Atlantic-solo record-holder Mike Bates, said they found the confusion amusing and continued their journey without further interruption. ROW4MND has already raised more than £100,000 toward its multiyear goal of £57 million for MND research. The team plans a series of long-distance rows over the next four years, including trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic crossings, to keep momentum for the cause.