Celebrate a Mother You Love: Barbara Sanchez-Salazar

Written by: Beth Kohl, Rowing Cares

Barbara is a loving mother of twin rowers and a powerful force in the Rowing Cares/Survivor Rowing Network organization. Her vision and dedication have been instrumental in the organization's success. Always one to put up her hand to take on a challenge, she motivates and inspires on and off the water.

Both of Barbara's daughters, Isabel and Maria, have embraced service to the cancer and rowing communities, serving as Rowing Cares Brand Ambassadors and coaching survivor rowing programs. Thank you Barbara, Isabel and Maria and Happy Mother’s Day!

Maria & Isabel:

"Our mom is the matriarch of our family, and we are blessed to be her daughters. It would be impossible to name all the different roles she’s held, but a few include lawyer, youth rowing program director, coach, referee, athlete, daughter, and the one she’s most proud of, mom.

"In 7th grade, we started attending Episcopal School in Jacksonville FL, the same school she graduated from. Our first competition as Lady Eagles was a swim meet. She proudly showed up with flowers and cards and watched from the stands as we wore the block E on our chests for the first time. While we might not have appreciated the gesture as 12-year-olds, it illustrates how our mother never fails to show up for us. We owe her a lot of credit for teaching us how to row amid occasional twin bickering. She helped us improve our technique, create race plans, calm our nerves, launch, and recover from many docks all while having her own team to manage. She made countless sacrifices so we could travel all over the country pursuing our dreams.

"She gave up many Mother’s Days to coach at Southeast Regionals when we were kids, and then support us at Ivy Championships throughout college. As we've moved into our adult lives, her unwavering support continues to shine through. We’re thankful for her friendship and love every opportunity we get to race with her. She has inspired us, and many others, to work hard and follow our passions. Growing up she often reminded us, “You can have it all, just maybe not all at the same time”. We’re still not quite sure how she juggles her many commitments, but we would not be the women we are today without her support, guidance, and love. We truly won the birth lottery in getting her as our mom."

Celebrate a Mother You Love by making a donation to Survivor Rowing Network's fundraiser, or making a purchase from the JL Racing Pre-Order Store. 10% of net sales from this store will be donated to Survivor Rowing Network.

Your gift will fund opportunities for cancer survivors to row together, healing from the mental, physical, and spiritual strength that rowing provides to women and men around the world. Help SRN empower survivors and change more lives forever.