STUDENT sportswomen raised more than £1,400 after rowing the distance between Oxford and Cambridge for charity.

Members of Oxford University Women’s Lightweight rowing team completed the 65.9 mile challenge outside the city’s Westgate Centre on rowing machines on Monday.

The £1,449.34 will be split between Helen & Douglas House hospice, which will receive £619.46, and their own rowing club.

Rower Emily Kwong, a 25-year-old PhD Engineering student at St Hugh’s College, said: “The challenge wasn’t too bad.

“They are both good causes and we wanted to show our support.”

Theresa Wildegger, the club’s fundraising officer and PhD student in experimental psychology at St John’s College, said: “We were thinking it would be nice to involve a local charity.

“We feel strongly about Oxford even though we come from all over. I am from Germany.

“I thought the hospice looked amazing when I visited — I was really impressed with what they do.

“When we are there in person you can see how much work they do and how many people are working behind the scenes.”

Ms Wildegger, 23, added that their rowing club did not receive a lot of funding.

She added: “A lot of the funding we get is for boats because rowing boats are expensive.

“What we are struggling with is everyday maintenance and petrol costs.

“With all the flooding in Oxford, a lot of our training happens in Dorney, Buckinghamshire, or London so petrol costs are expensive.”

The challenge was shared between 12 of the team members over six hours.

Helen & Douglas House, in East Oxford, provides hospice care and respite for children and young people.