Rowing record-breaker who overcame an eating disorder joins race to raise money for Hong Kong charities and hopes to stimulate conversation about mental health

Claire Burley was motivated by her own battles with anorexia and bulimia to join a 45km solo rowing race challenge to fund-raise for causes close to her heart

She wants more women to get into sports, and for people to open up more about mental health, something she says is ‘a really, really big part of my life’

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Hong Kong national rower Claire Burley is rowing to raise money for charities that will boost mental health awareness. Photo: Panda Man/Takumi Images

Published: 3:15pm, 13 Nov 2021

A 45km (28 mile) row would be a daunting task for many, but the biggest worry for Hong Kong national rowing team member Claire Burley is whether she will be bored.

About 150 rowers will take part in the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s annual “Around the Island” race, a lap around Hong Kong Island, on November 25. Burley took part in the previous race as part of a duo; this will be her first time tackling the course solo.

Her aim is to raise funds for two local charities she holds close to her heart – Women in Sports Empowered (Wise) and Mind HK.

“I’ve grown up with mental health issues. I had an eating disorder as a teenager, which led to anxiety and depression,” says Hong Kong-born Burley, aged 26. “There is still a bit of a stigma when it comes to talking about things like anxiety and depression; I want to open up that conversation a bit more.”

Burley will raise funds for two Hong Kong charities by tackling the 45km Around the Island race. Photo: Panda Man/Takumi Images

Mind HK offers online resources about mental health issues and affordable access to a network of health professionals. The Wise initiative encourages women to get active through a mentorship programme that partners young women with female industry leaders.