Celebrating Mothers They Love: Saugatuck Survive-Oars
Rowers from the Saugatuck Survive-Oars have been instrumental in the development and growth of the Survivor Rowing Network. These three strong Saugatuck women have already won the hardest race of their lives, but took on rowing and found new confidence and friends for life. Their children have been some of their greatest supporters and cheer them on and off the water. We asked these survivors how rowing has impacted them, and how their children are celebrating them this Mother's Day.
Celebrate a Mother You Love: Barbara Sanchez-Salazar
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.
Celebrate a Mother You Love: The Behrens Family
A powerful bond between mother and son brings us to share their story in celebration of Mother’s Day. We met the Behrens family from New Jersey a few years ago when Brendan participated in the Rowing Cares Pink Boathouse Challenge in honor of his mother, Krisi. He was Celebrating A Mother He Loves. Both Krisi and Brendan are committed to helping those who are fighting. In honor of Mother’s Day, Rowing Cares and JL Racing asked them to share a bit of themselves and their incredible journey.
Survivor Rowing Network: Seats for Survivors Fundraiser
Survivor Rowing Network (SRN) is excited to introduce rowing to more cancer survivors in 2024 and build on its success in 2023, their inaugural year. In honor of Valentine’s Day, SRN is launching their fundraising campaign, Seats for Survivors. JL Racing is proud to open the Seats for Survivors Pre-Order Store this month to support SRN's fundraiser. 10% of net sales from this pre-order store will be donated to the Seats for Survivors fundraiser.
GPRF 15th Annual Row to the Future Benefit Breakfast
With more than 38,000 youth participating annually in their programs, the George Pocock Rowing Foundation is changing the way young people find, start, and stay rowing, regardless of circumstance. With your support, they are creating an inclusive rowing community, accessible for all. The GPRF partners with multiple boathouses and public school districts in the Pacific Northwest and beyond with that goal in mind.
Row For The Cure Pink The Boathouse Challenge 2022
Gather your friends, family, and teammates for Row for the Cure's Pink the Boathouse Challenge in honor or memory of a friend or loved one. Have fun and challenge yourself as we come together to fight cancer. Row, erg, run or walk throughout October. Form or join a team and participate in-person or virtually. Proceeds help fund community cancer organizations that support cancer patients and their families and rowing clubs which empower cancer survivors.
JL Spotlight: Kateryna Maistrenko
Kateryna (Katya) Maistrenko grew up around rowing. Her mom and dad both represented their countries in the 1988 and 1972 Olympics, respectively. They built and operated a large rowing center in Ukraine while Katya grew up. It was only natural that she started rowing when she was just 9 years old. Throughout her rowing career, Katya has rowed on the Ukrainian National Team, as well as for an NCAA Division I school in Washington. She was in the US when the war broke out in Ukraine. She found comfort by continuing to train on the water while also fundraising to support the people of Ukraine.
Stand With Ukraine Pre-Order Store
JL Racing is collaborating with Team JL Ambassador, Michael Toutloff, to launch a pre-order store to help support an organization that is providing aide to the Ukrainian people. 100% of the proceeds of this pre-order store will be donated to the UN Crisis Relief Fund. Donations from UN Crisis Relief go towards the United Nation’s efforts to fund immediate rapid-response aid when disasters strike and critical work in humanitarian crises around the world. In this case, the Ukraine crisis.
Women's History Month: 24 Hour Indoor Row
In honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day (March 8th), we sat down with Team JL Ambassador, Rachel Smillie to ask her what she is doing to celebrate women in sport. Her answer? A Guinness World Record attempt on the indoor rowing machine to travel the furthest distance by a female team in 24 hours. Keep reading to learn about the details of a row like this, why she is taking on this challenge, and what Rachel hopes to accomplish by taking part in a 24 hour row
Nereid Boat Club: Freezing February Fundraiser
Nereid Boat Club is holding a fundraiser to help replace three boats that were destroyed by Hurricane Ida last Fall. The club has committed that for every $1 raised, athletes will row 10 meters on March 5th with their teammates. If they hit their team target goal, they will have rowed over 200,000 meters.
Team JL Ambassador Training To Row Across The Atlantic
On this National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we join in on recognizing student-athletes, champion athletes, coaches, administrators and lawmakers committed to providing equitable access to sports for all girls and women. We would like to highlight one of our Team JL ambassadors, Rachel Smillie, who is currently training to rowing across the Atlantic Ocean with two other women.
Austin Rowing Club's 2022 Silent Auction
Austin Rowing Club will be holding a silent auction in January, which will help support the club's operations in providing recreational, competitive, and community outreach programs for a variety of water sports, ages, and abilities. ARC is currently seeking auction item donations. If you are able to donate a physical item, product or service please fill out the form on the auction website.
