Gather your friends, family, teammates for Rowing Cares' 5th Annual Pink the Boathouse Challenge in honor and celebration of the 110 cancer survivors and their coaches competing in Head of the Charles 2024.

We invite the rowing community and its supporters to cheer on our survivors and virually participate with them for the entire 4,702 meters down the racecourse.

Rowing Cares' Survivor Rowing Network program (SRN) and Head of the Charles have partnered to host the inaugural HOCR Survivor Row on October 19, 2024, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Eleven 8+s of cancer survivors from 15 rowing clubs have entered this historic race, including clubs from Italy and France and nine from across the U.S. 

The athletes have been selected, boats registered and now the teams are practicing for the race of their lives. While each athlete has already won the race for their life, these survivors are ready and anxious to take on the grueling 4,702 meter course. For most of the survivors, this is the first time down the Charles course, and we could not be more proud.

"Rowing in the HOCR means that I have come back from cancer even better than I was prior to the nightmare. With the help of friends and family, I have become mentally stronger, fitter, and have found a sisterhood of other survivor rowers who have traveled similar journeys. Now we get to showcase it all on rowing's biggest and most prestigious stage, a stage that few have the opportunity to experience. Whether we come in first or last, we are examples of what can be to others. It means that I/we will make a difference."

Dee Marrara - SRNHOCR23 and 24 team member - We Can Row DC - second time HOCR athlete and nine-year cancer survivor.

Join the fun!

• Row/Erg (4,702 meters) or Run/Walk (3.2 miles) throughout October. Open to rowers and non-rowers of all ages whether you compete on the water or the erg, run or walk. Form a team and participate safely in-person or virtually. Encourage your friends and family to support you as you support cancer patients and survivors.
• Get your PINK ON all month. Wear PINK to practice or races, host a party: Pink Halloween, Pink Rose Party, Pink Lemonade Party, host a Pink Learn to Row or a Pink Evening Row and turn your boathouse PINK.
• Get screened! This is the time to plan your annual screening and encourage family and friends to do the same.

"When people are learning to row, the cancer sits outside the boat for that period of time, and it’s replaced by something new,” says Holly Metcalf, founder of Survivor Rowing, “Once they’re on the water, they’re blown away by the sum of their strength.”