Laura Loudon-Griffiths rowed from Start Point all the way back to her home port of Sidmouth for the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Coastal Challenge on June 8th 2008. Laura was inspired to take up the MCS Coastal Challenge by the terrible scenes from the Napoli ship, which left huge quantities of rubbish on Devon's beautiful beaches last year. Laura is raising funds for the vital work of the Marine Conservation Society, the UK Charity which is celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking work to protect sealife this year.

"With a life spent by the sea, you realise the importance of keeping it healthy, hence my support of MCS", says Laura. "My challenge was difficult - I started at Beesands, just inside Start Point. Twelve hours of constant paddling later I arrived to a fantastic reception by family and friends. Rowing is a wonderful way of seeing the coastline, the birds and appreciating the splendour of the sea itself."

Laura's row is part of the MCS Coastal Challenge, which hopes to have enough people taking part to have covered the entire distance around the beautiful UK coastline; 18,470km (11,477 miles) and to have raised vital funds towards their conservation work. Laura would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her, (including one very patient friend in his yacht, tearing his hair out trying at times to travel at one knot!) and Concept II for giving her a rowing machine to train on for this epic challenge.

You too can help MCS make a positive change for our seas by joining their ambitious fundraising initiative "Coastal Challenge". Any kind of sponsored event that covers distance qualifies as a Coastal Challenge event, so whether you want to run a marathon or cycle to work every Wednesday you can make those miles really count!

Call or email today and request your free fundraising pack from MCS on 01989 561587 (or katherine.stephenson@mcsuk.org). Every supporter who raises £100 gets a fantastic free ‘MCS Champion' t-shirt - visit our website www.mcsuk.org for more information and updates. Ends

1) The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection for marine life. MCS is celebrating 25 years of protecting our precious seas, shores and wildlife this year. MCS is running a series of events, projects and campaigns in 2008 to highlight the need for better protection of our seas, celebrate the wildlife they support and give opportunities for people to take an active part - on land or at sea.

...................................................................................

Marine Conservation Society . Unit 3 Wolf Business Park . Alton Road . Ross On Wye . HR9 5NB

01989 566017 . info@mcsuk.org . www.mcsuk.org

MCS Scotland . 3 Coates Place . Edinburgh . EH3 7AA . 0131 2266360 . scotland@mcsuk.org

Registered charity no (England & Wales): 1004005 . Registered charity no (Scotland): SC037480

Company Limited by guarantee no. 2550966 . Registered in England VAT no. 489 1505 17