easyJet employee attempts to break rowing world record for Unicef

Tom Hetherington, Learning and Development Coordinator at easyJet, is holding a 24 hour indoor rowing event to raise money for Unicef, the world’s leading children’s organisation.

The fundraising event for Unicef will take place at London Luton Airport, where Tom is attempting to break the world record for longest distance rowed in 24 hours. 11 other easyJet employees, and a number of Tom’s friends will also be attempting the challenge of keeping a rowing machine moving continuously for 24 hours, by taking it in turns to row alongside Tom. 

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, works together with Unicef on the Change for Good partnership. The funds raised by Tom will support the incredible partnership, which has raised over £10.3million to support Unicef’s Polio vaccination programmes and provide life-saving aid during emergencies.

24 year old Tom has been rowing for over 10 years and is a member of the Cantabrigian rowing club. If he is successful in his attempt, he will be the world record holder for longest distance rowed in 24 hours by someone of his weight and age.

Tom Hetherington, easyJet, said:

“The aim is cover 300,000 metres. It’s ambitious but if I can raise just 1 pence per metre we will be able to fund the vaccinations of 20,000 children which is mind-blowing.

“Knowing that I could make a difference in just one life will be enough to get me through the worst times of this challenge, but to have such a huge impact on so many lives is an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often.

“Like me, Unicef get things done. And they’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all children.”

To make a donation for Tom’s 24 hour row, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/unicef24hourrow

*note to editors: more photographs are available on request.

About easyJet:

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 78 million passengers annually, of which more than 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 270 aircraft on more than 880 routes to over 140 airports across 31 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in seven countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £9m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats. Since 2000 easyJet has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by over 30%. It’s latest target is a further 10% reduction from today’s performance by 2022 and a 38% improvement from 2000.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch almost 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers. 

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children.  As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk