Charity Rowers Mistaken for Migrants: MP Donates After False Alarm

Charity Rowers Mistaken for ‘Illegal Migrants’ by MP, Donation Follows

An independent MP, Rupert Lowe, mistakenly identified a team of charity rowers as potential “illegal migrants” while they were undertaking a grueling fundraising challenge along the Norfolk coast. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, August 7, 2025, led to the Coastguard being alerted and a subsequent police check, but ultimately resulted in Lowe pledging £1,000 to the rowers’ cause.

The ROW4MND crew, attempting to row from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Caithness, were met with an unexpected interruption when Lowe shared a picture of their boat on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by the message: “Dinghies coming into Great Yarmouth, RIGHT NOW.” He added that he had “alerted the authorities” and would “use every tool at [his] disposal” to ensure deportation if they were indeed “illegal migrants.”

However, HM Coastguard quickly confirmed the crew’s identity, revealing they were a team raising money for motor neurone disease (MND) charities. Lowe subsequently posted a correction on Friday morning, stating: “False alarm! The unknown vessel was charity rowers, thank goodness. As a well done to the crew, I’ll donate £1,000 to their charity – raising money for MND.” He added, “Keep going, and watch out for any real illegal migrants!”

The rowers described their confusion following Lowe’s initial post. According to reports, they were contacted again several hours later after police “asked if they could send a lifeboat out to check who we were.” Former Royal Marine and crew member, Mr. Bates, found the situation amusing, stating, “I’ve not been mistaken for a migrant before.” He added, “The best comment was the one asking where the Royal Navy were when you need them. I’m a former Royal Marine, so the Royal Navy were on the boat.”

The ROW4MND team began their journey from Land’s End on July 25, 2025, and initially planned to travel north into the Irish Sea. However, adverse weather conditions forced them to return to Land’s End and restart their journey heading east along the English Channel. Mr. Bates described this change in direction as “about us showing resolve and resilience and hope.”

This current row is the first of four planned endurance challenges over four years, with the team aiming to raise a total of £57 million for MND research. Future legs include rowing from John O’Groats to Land’s End next year, from California to Hawaii in 2027, and from New York to London in 2028. As of August 15, 2025, they have already raised £107,515 for the charities My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, Leeds Hospitals Charity and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

“We’re rowing for hope, we’re rowing to find a cure, and hopefully we’ll raise £57 million,” said Mr. Bates. “We certainly will if MPs keep talking about us. Maybe Rupert will give us a donation.”

Lowe, who was expelled from Reform UK in March 2025 amid claims of threats towards its chairman, has been a vocal advocate for stricter measures to tackle illegal migration, including mass deportations. He stated he made “no apologies over being vigilant for my constituents” and described the situation as a “national crisis.”