A Mylor based rowing club raised hundreds of pounds on Saturday with a symbolic 12 mile row to support a lifesaving charity in the Mediterranean.

After a morning of heavy winds threatened to scupper their plans, three crews from Nankersey Rowing Club set off from Mylor for the long row up to Truro before turning around for the return journey, covering a distance similar to the route taken by refugees on the risky crossing from Bodrum to Kos.

The boats, which included rowers of all ages from students to veterans, as well as one completely blind participant from the charity Blind At Sea (BATS), were raising money for the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, a charity which last year saved thousands of people from drowning after taking to sea in unsafe boats.

Jane Callaghan, the club's rowing captain and coxswain of one of the boats, said: "I'm amazingly proud of the rowers for what they have achieved, with teams including one totally blind man, a lady in her seventies, young people who started rowing this term, and several other club members who would never have thought of doing that distance or making that commitment if it hadn't been to support such a worthy charity."

She added that following a windy week, "we were ready to catch that break in the weather, and went for it."

Although the club has yet to tally up a final total, almost £500 has been raised through online donations, and with at least three of the 21 participants raising over £100 they are expected to break the £1,000 barrier.

Online donations are still being accepted at www.givengain.com/ap/rowforrefugees