Rowing participates in 5th annual Row for the Cure Jacksonville

Rowing participates in 5th annual Row for the Cure Jacksonville

The JU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has established a reputation as a strong supporter of the local community and this year continues to be no different as the JU men’s and women’s rowing programs participated in the 5th annual Row for the Cure Jacksonville last weekend at the Jacksonville Rowing Club.

"It was great for our program to have the opportunity to take part in such an amazingly successful Row for the Cure," said JU director of rowing Jim Mitchell. "We are just glad that we could help support those with breast cancer, as well as promote awareness."

In support of the North Florida affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which is ranked as the top rated charity, the Row for the Cure Jacksonville was created by The Bolles School rowing coach, Ted Ridenburg, in memory of his mother in 2004. Then Jacksonville Rowing Club coach and current co-chair of operations Barbara Sanchez-Salazar helped grow the event into a multi-team and club effort and the event has increased in participation and money raised each year. This year, the event collected over $101,000 compared to $21,000 in 2007.

"One of my responsibilities was to get participation from all the rowing organizations in town," said Sanchez-Salazar. "This is the first year JU participated and they really brought the event full circle. It really made the event special for the athletes to know that the college joined them in their cause. JU is one team that created all of the rowing organizations on the First Coast, and in some way, we can all trace our lineage back to JU."

The Dolphin squads showed their support by having four boats (two Men’s Varsity 8, Women’s Varsity 8 and Women’s Varsity 4) row over the three mile course, used for the First Coast Head Race, in front of supporters at the Jacksonville Rowing Club. Outside donations were sponsored through JU’s participation in the event which not only raises money but is a way to celebrate survivors, memorialize those that have been lost and embrace all families.

"Participating in the Row for the Cure was a great experience," said junior SAAC representative Tyler Humphrey. "The community was really excited about us being there and they showed their support when we rowed by as well as when we stopped by to interact with the spectators. I consider myself very lucky for never having lost someone to breast cancer, but I felt fortunate being there to support those who had. I was touched when a list of loved ones who had been lost to breast cancer was being read and a chant of ‘no more names!’ rose from the crowd. I look forward to participating again next year to help with the fight for a cure to breast cancer."

Over the past three years, the JU SAAC has become a fixture in Jacksonville as JU Athletics continues its commitment to change lives inside and out. JU works with Daniel Memorial, Florida’s oldest child-serving agency that assists troubled youth and their families. The Dolphins are involved with the foundation’s annual back-to-school supply drive for children desperately in need of basic school items as the new school year arrives. The Dolphin baseball and softball teams (Daniel Memorial Rock N’ Ride) and the women’s basketball team (First Coast Heart Walk) have also volunteered their time in the fall.