eBay Inc. Teams Tackle London's Great River Race

eBay Inc. Staff

Fourteen boats crewed by eBay Inc. employees took to the water in The Great River Race this month. The annual 21-mile course down London’s River Thames, sponsored by eBay Inc., featured more than 300 vessels competing in the name of charity.

SeaBay Dragons was the top eBay boat, coming in at two hours and 36 minutes.

Team captain Katya Fearnley-Whittingstall (who on dry land is an executive talent acquisition partner) said, ‘We all felt like [British Olympian] runner Mo Farah on that last stretch of river from the White Cross in Richmond. With the crowds cheering and waving and shouting, they carried us. It was an utterly incredible feeling.”

The real winners on the day were the boat’s nominated charities, which benefited from nearly £30,000 in funds (about US$48,000). The eBay Foundation also donated to the charities of the first three eBay boats across the finishing line.  First placed SeaBay Dragons was given £3,000 (US$4,800); second placed Pay Pow, £2,000 (US$3,200); and Oarsome Gumtree, £1,000 (US$1,600).