Gift from trust will motivate women’s eight on towards victory (From Worcester News)

Gift from trust will motivate women’s eight on towards victory

10:20pm Monday 9th March 2009 in

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A TRUST set up in memory of a former Malvern schoolgirl who fell to her death while walking in Siberia has donated a women’s boat to her rowing club.

Thirty-year-old Joanna Brown had travelled with a friend to the Beijing Olympics before heading to Mongolia and on to Siberia, where the accident happened on Monday, August 25, last year.

Since her death the Joanna Brown Trust, which aims to provide sporting equipment and encourage people to experience activities, has raised thousands of pounds.

Some of the money – £14,500 – has bought a women’s eight-crew rowing boat for the Poplar Blackwell and District Rowing Club in London and has officially been named Jo Brown.

Miss Brown’s brother Rich-ard said: “It has really given an identity to the female section of the club.

“All the girls have been united by this and they now have extra motivation to go on and win tournaments.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for them as they did not have a female eight before.”

A signed photograph of Olympic gold medallist Zac Purchase – a former pupil of the King’s School, Worcester – which was taken by Miss Brown during the Beijing Olympics was auctioned at the recent naming ceremony for the boat and raised more money for the trust.

Since his sister’s death, Mr Brown, of Norham Place, Warndon Villages, Worcester, has been busy fund-raising for the trust.

Friends of the former pupil of Dyson Perrins Sports College, Malvern, created a cook book full of recipes which Miss Brown had cooked for them and others have organised charity evenings to raise money. To find out more details about the trust visit thejoannabrowntrust.org.