Sculling through the chop in support of youth rowing

MUSKOKAN - The weather hasn’t been entirely co-operative, but the charity row carries on.
Organizers and participants were right in the middle of the nine-day 2012 Row Kids Row fundraising trip when they spoke to The Muskokan on Sept. 11. The event raises money for youth rowing programs all across the province.
The team of rowers started in Port Severn last Friday and will row and portage their way to Peterborough by Sunday.
Kathy McCarthy of Hatchet’s Outdoor Centre in Port Carling is one of the organizers of Row Kids Row. She was rowing her way across Lake Simcoe as she spoke to The Muskokan, and said that while the weather has been mostly good, the trip started out with some difficulty.
“The first day had a storm and there was lightning. We couldn’t row anymore, like we physically couldn’t make the boat move into the wind. We had to pull off into some random cottage, but other than that it’s been really good,” said McCarthy. “We stopped in at the Severn Rowing Club and stayed overnight with them.”
This is the second year the event has been held. Last year, over $1,000 was raised, and representatives from five different clubs took part. This year’s edition of Row Kids Row is quite different from the previous year.
Notably, the event will only take nine days, as opposed to 16, and some of the more grueling portage sections of the row have been removed from the route. The section through the Moon River has been removed because it was just too much weight to carry for such a long distance.
People wishing to donate to the cause are still able to do so online through hatchetsoutdoor.com.
“Any donations are very much appreciated,” said McCarthy. “They’re going to all the different rowing clubs that are taking part. Right now, it’s Peterbrough, Barrie and Hatchets, so people can make donations online right now for any of those three clubs.”
By getting young people into rowing, organizers hope to promote lifelong healthy living habits. By supporting rowing clubs, fundraising events like this reduce the cost of entry for any young people hoping to get into the sport.
McCarthy said that rowing is a sport a person can take part in for most of their life.
“Rowing, swimming and cross-country skiing are known as the best full-body, low-impact workouts. They are all amazing sports for your whole life,” said McCarthy. “We say nine to 99 because it’s low impact and full body. It’s something people can stay involved with until they feel like they can’t anymore, which is pretty old.”

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