About the Survivor Rowing Network, a rowing cares programOur Goal
Launched in 2023, we are working to create a world where every cancer survivor has access to a supportive global community and the opportunity to rebuild strength, confidence, and purpose through rowing and erging.
Our Path Forward
Expanding Access: Partnering with rowing clubs, health organizations, and community programs to make rowing and erging accessible to survivors everywhere.
Building Community: Creating a connected global network of programs and individuals through events, virtual challenges, and shared storytelling.
Supporting All Levels: Offering pathways for both recreational participation and competitive development.
Promoting Recovery & Wellness: Advocating for the physical and mental health benefits of rowing and erging in cancer recovery.
Developing Leaders: Empowering survivors to become coaches, mentors, and ambassadors within their local communities.
Raising Awareness & Funding: Growing visibility and support to help fund the launch of new programs, sustain existing programs and expand global reach.
HOCR x SRN Survivor Row 2025123 Survivors.
Thirteen 8+s. One 4x+. One 1x.
All people. All cancers. One community.
In October 2025, 28 programs from four countries—Ireland, Italy, the UK and the US- representing women and men across every cancer background—came together to compete in the greatest rowing event in the world: the Head Of The Charles Regatta.
For most, it was their first HOCR.
For many, their first head race.
And for some, their first race of any kind.
Together, they didn’t just race. They made history.
Tens of thousands of spectators lined the river cheering them on…many news outlets have featured them on their local news—you can view these amazing stories on the SRN Media page. This event continues to shine the spotlight even brighter on Survivor Rowing.
”Never having rowed I was completely unprepared for how life changing being part of this sport would be.”
“Breast cancer led me to rowing - I was hooked on the very first day”
”Never having rowed I was completely unprepared for how life changing being part of this sport would be.” “Breast cancer led me to rowing - I was hooked on the very first day”
“The friendship & camaraderie combined with the intensity of learning this new sport, growing stronger and healthier together is unmatched!”
”It took me a number of years to get the courage to try. It was the best thing I ever did.“
“The friendship & camaraderie combined with the intensity of learning this new sport, growing stronger and healthier together is unmatched!” ”It took me a number of years to get the courage to try. It was the best thing I ever did.“
What We Do
At the Survivor Rowing Network, we help cancer survivors reclaim strength and connection through movement.
We partner with rowing clubs and communities around the world to launch and grow survivor programs—on the water and on the erg.
Funding and support to start and sustain programs
Coaching education to ensure safe, empowering experiences
Learn-to-row resources to welcome new survivors
A global network connecting teams, leaders, and survivors
We also help individuals find a program near them—because no one should navigate survivorship alone.
Why It Matters
Survivorship can be isolating. Recovery can feel uncertain.
Rowing changes that.
It builds strength. Restores confidence. Creates connection.
Exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence—yet many survivors don’t have access to the support they need to begin.
We’re changing that—together.
Get Involved
Whether you're a survivor, a rowing club, or a supporter, there’s a place for you here.
Survivors – Find your team and community
Clubs – Start or grow a survivor program
Supporters – Help expand access worldwide
Join us and be part of a global movement redefining survivorship.
Executive Team
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Beth Kohl
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Dr. Karen Blessey
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Tara Hoffman
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Russ Kohl
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Declan Watson
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Executive Director and Founder, Survivor Rowing Network. Executive Director and Board President, Rowing Cares
Beth co-founded the Survivor Rowing Network (SRN) with her husband, Russ, in 2023, initially uniting 10 U.S. programs into a coordinated national effort. Under her leadership, SRN has grown into a dynamic global network encompassing 45 programs across ten countries.
With more than 35 years of international leadership experience, Beth has directed strategy, communications, and organizational development initiatives for major corporations and nonprofit organizations. Her work reflects a deep commitment to mission-driven leadership, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth.
Beth leads both Rowing Cares and SRN with a collaborative and strategic approach. She is dedicated to strengthening program infrastructure, advancing global partnerships, and fostering meaningful connections that support and empower individuals affected by cancer through the sport of rowing.
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SRN Volunteer Medical Director and Founder, Survivor Rowing Program NOLA
Dr. Blessy, an award-winning Internal Medicine physician based in New Orleans, serves on the Board of Directors of Ochsner Health, the largest health system in the Gulf South. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing patient care, community health, and innovative programming that expands access to wellness resources.
While in medical school, she founded a medical student–led free summer camp for children with medical disabilities. More recently, she founded Survivor Rowing Program NOLA, creating a structured pathway for breast cancer survivors to pursue evidence-based exercise, reduce recurrence risk, and build community through the sport of rowing.
Dr. Blessy now leads SRN’s engagement with the medical community, strengthening clinical partnerships, advancing education, and integrating survivorship-focused exercise programming into broader healthcare conversations.
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SRN Volunteer Program Director and Executive Director, Recovery on Water
Tara serves as Executive Director of Recovery on Water (ROW), one of the largest and most well-established survivor rowing programs in the world. She first joined the organization as an athlete following her own breast cancer diagnosis, where she experienced firsthand the transformative power of the program’s discipline, community, and support.
Today, Tara provides strategic and operational leadership to ROW, guiding its continued growth, program excellence, and long-term sustainability. In addition, she serves on the Survivor Rowing Network (SRN) leadership team, advising emerging and established survivor rowing programs globally on launch strategy, organizational development, governance, and sustainable growth. Through her leadership, she advances best practices and strengthens the global survivor rowing movement.
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Program Director
As Co-Founder and Program Director of SRN, Russ provides oversight for all survivor rowing programs and leads operational execution and fundraising initiatives essential to the network’s continued growth and sustainability.
He brings extensive experience in international sales and marketing leadership with major technology firms, complemented by nonprofit board service focused on health and wellness. His background in global business development, stakeholder engagement, and organizational growth informs his disciplined, results-oriented approach to advancing SRN’s mission.
Russ’s commitment to uniting the rowing and cancer communities drives his work to expand access to survivor rowing programs, strengthen partnerships, and increase the global reach and impact of SRN and its affiliates.
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Global Expansion and Network Development
Declan has translated his lived experience and lifelong commitment to the sport of rowing into purposeful leadership advancing resilience, recovery, and connection through physical activity. He works in close collaboration with rowing clubs, healthcare partners, and survivor communities to design and strengthen sustainable programs that support individuals affected by cancer.
A Board Member of Multiple Myeloma Ireland, Declan brings extensive international consulting and organizational transformation expertise to his advocacy and leadership work. He integrates strategic insight with mission-driven commitment to advance survivor wellbeing, promote patient empowerment, and expand equitable access to rowing as a pathway to recovery and community.
The SRN Steering Team
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![Lori Boersma]()
Lori Boersma
After surviving two breast cancer diagnoses—one requiring a 54-day induced coma—Lori sought a community that understood her journey. She found it with the Saugatuck SurviveOARs, a Westport survivor rowing program that restored her strength and purpose. Now, she coaches fellow survivors and helps expand rowing programs for cancer survivors nationwide.
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![Margaret Brown]()
Margaret Brown
Margaret Brown has volunteered with Survivor Rowing Network since its early days. A former marketing and management executive in broadcast, tech, and entertainment, she now supports nonprofit leaders through pro bono consulting. Focused on education and youth development startups, she is an integral force in SRN’s growth, fostering deep connections across the global community
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![Julie Edmiston]()
Julie Edmiston
Julie Edmiston has been part of the rowing community for over 40 years as both athlete and coach. A survivor of metastatic breast and kidney cancer, she found purpose in Survivor Rowing with WeCanRow Philadelphia. In 2024, she launched WeCanRow Wilmington, empowering survivors through rowing.
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![Shari Lowen]()
Shari Lowen
Shari discovered teamwork through rowing in Sacramento. After a lung cancer diagnosis, returning to the water became central to her healing. She founded the West Coast’s first survivor rowing program and now serves on the Rowing Cares Board and Survivor Rowing Network Steering Team, supporting survivors’ physical and emotional recovery.
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![Victoria Madden]()
Victoria Madden
Introduced to rowing through her children, Victoria embraced the sport after a 2016 cancer diagnosis, finding strength and community with Saugatuck Survive-OARS. Now Head Coach of Survivors Row Norwalk, she also rows competitively in Westport and supports launching new Survivor Rowing Network programs nationwide.
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![And Morse]()
And Morse
And began rowing with Upper Valley Rowing Foundation’s Cancer Recovery through Rowing (CReW) program in 2021, finding community and strength on the water. Now a passionate advocate, she serves on the SRN Steering Committee and as a CReW Captain, sharing her technical expertise, engaging with new athletes and empowering survivors.
Rowing Cares
Rowing Forward, Together
Rowing Cares unites the rowing and cancer communities through meaningful programming and events—on the water and on ergs. Founded in 1993, over $4 million has been raised and distributed to cancer centers and rowing programs across the country.
Rowing Cares regattas honor, celebrate, and remember those impacted by cancer, while raising critical funds for survivor programs and community cancer organizations.
The Survivor Rowing Network ( SRN) is Rowing Cares signature program, launched in 2023. Now 45 programs strong across three continents—SRN helps survivors find healing, connection, and strength through rowing.
Every effort, every event, and every gift supports those in recovery and helps build a stronger, more connected survivorship community.
