Racing the Head of the Charles for MS Australia

Let's Kiss Goodbye to MS

We are racing our coxed four in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA (USA) on 22 October 2022, which we are hoping to use as an opportunity to raise funds for MS Australia. Our crew has been training hard for this race since December 2021, and we want to do ourselves, our club and you our sponsors proud!

Our crew comprises Ruth Kelly (cox), Eric Moore (stroke), Charles Buzacott (3 seat), David Rayment (2 seat) and Rob Koczkar (bow). We are members of Leichhardt Rowing Club in Sydney, Australia.

Every cent we raise will go to MS Australia – we are covering all of our own trip costs.

We chose to support MS Australia because Ruth, our coxswain, has MS. She has firsthand knowledge of the work MS Australia does, and is grateful every day for their incredible efforts in disease research, drug development, and supporting people living with MS.

The Head of the Charles is the largest 2-day regatta in the world, with 11,000 athletes rowing in over 1,900 boats across 61 events. The Charles separates Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States of America. The course is 3 miles long (4.8km) running from Boston University’s DeWolfe Boathouse through six bridges and is renowned for being challenging for crews to navigate without incident.

MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system – currently there is no cure. MS affects more young people than any other neurological condition, with the average age of diagnosis just 30 years old. Every case of multiple sclerosis is unique – the symptoms, severity and progress of the disease are different for everyone.

MS Australia’s mission is to accelerate Australian MS research toward the prevention, better treatments and a cure for MS.