This April the prestigious Cancer Research UK Boat Races will see two additional boats take to the water. Two teams of celebrities will master the skills required to take on the River Thames in the first ever Cancer Research UK Celebrity Boat Race. The two teams, coached by Sir Steve Redgrave and James Cracknell OBE, are made up of a range of familiar faces including television personalities, presenters, comedians, ex-Olympians and former Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Club rowers.

Following the first day of training, two-time Olympic rowing champion and Celebrity Boat Race team member, Helen Glover said: “I’ve loved today. This is the sport I adore and train really hard for, so to see so many people experiencing it for the first time has been incredible. I think Race Day is going to be hilarious, with so many big characters and competitive celebrities in each boat who knows what will happen. While I’m really hoping my team will win, it’s been a great opportunity to be a part of the whole experience, and an honour to “Pull Together” for Cancer Research UK”

In a world first in 2016, BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management donated the title sponsorship rights of The Boat Races to Cancer Research UK. The #PullTogether campaign has been created this year to raise awareness and funds for the charity with the Celebrity Boat Race taking centre stage.

The race, which is supported by the BBC, will be broadcast as part of BBC One’s coverage of The Boat Races on Sunday 2nd April. Tune in to see which celebrity team rowed themselves to victory ahead of start of the official Cancer Research UK Boat Races.

Follow the progress of the celebrities as they train for The Celebrity Boat Race on #PullTogether and @PullTogether.

To support Cancer Research UK, text Pull3 to 70200 to donate £3 towards life-saving research.

Those inspired by the Celebrity Boat Race can take on their own challenge and help beat cancer sooner with Cancer Research UK’s fitness fundraising challenge, The Great Row. Visit cruk.org/TheGreatRow for more information and to request a fundraising pack