Rowing championship adds breast cancer focus

East County’s Pat Van Stedum first stepped into a dragon boat and began paddling in October 2014. Since then, she’s traveled the globe with a group of fellow breast cancer survivors, who participate in Nathan Benderson Park’s home dragon boat racing team, Survivors in Sync.

She and other women from the group will showcase their sport and the importance of early breast cancer detection Oct. 1 as the

2017 World Rowing Championship puts an international spotlight on breast cancer awareness.

The last day of competition is dedicated to health and wellness and includes the Row for the Cure Erg-a-Thon fundraiser, at which the public can test its stamina and skill on an erg, a stationary rowing machine. Individuals who try the erg can make donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a nonprofit that has invested more than $2.9 billion in breast cancer research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 60 countries. Business also are sponsoring for total meters rowed to raise additional funds.

“It’s important for us to be a part of this to show, yes, we are breast cancer survivors and yes, we are healthy,” Van Stedum said.

World Rowing Championship Manager of Programming and Special Events Stephanie Manzano said the Erg-a-thon event replaces a previously planned on-water event, which would have featured dragon boats, kayaks and rowing shells. Organizers made the change because of low early registration numbers and to expand the event’s impact.

“We’re going to capture a much bigger audience,” she said. “This will be a better concept. October 1 is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

During rowing competition, the “Fan Fest” area will feature health-related vendors and the nearby Fan Fest stage will feature speakers on health topics, as well as yoga, Zumba classes and other fitness classes, Manzano said.

“Our ultimate goal is to promote early screening, early detection and raise money for a cure,” Manzano said. “We’ve got an international audience.”

The Row for the Cure event this year also included a special fashion show, featuring local youth rowers, Sept. 22, at Macy’s at The Mall at University Town Center.