Veterans invited to boat on the Fox River with local rowing clubs
On Sunday, Sept. 13, the St. Charles Rowing Club and the St. Charles Canoe Club will host a free recreational boating event for military service personnel and members of the Wounded Warrior Project and Team Red White & Blue from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ferson Creek Park in St. Charles.
Both clubs will make their fleet of Resolute Racing rowing sculls, canoes and kayaks available for this event. Attendees can learn to row, canoe and kayak from experienced club members and coaches from around the Midwest, including Milwaukee School of Engineering collegiate rowers, followed by a lunch in the Ferson Creek pavilion.
Interested community volunteers are also invited to lend a hand.
"If you can get to Ferson Creek Park, we can get you in a boat," said Chris Meldrum, St. Charles Rowing Club president. "We hope our event will help connect America's veterans and the community by getting them out to have some fun, make new friends, and enjoy the beautiful Fox River for the day."
Karl Teske, a U.S. Navy Veteran and St. Charles Canoe Club Commodore, expressed, "This is a great opportunity to talk to, learn from and paddle socially with one of Illinois' friendliest clubs. We cater to all abilities from the beginning fledgling canoeist to the seasoned professional paddler. Everyone is welcome."
The clubs were granted the honorable "Proud Supporter" designation by Wounded Warrior Project. A Wounded Warrior Project spokesperson stated, "Thank you for hosting an event to benefit our nation's wounded service members."
Last year's event, hosted by Grand Valley State University Rowing Club (coached by John Bancheri) and the Wounded Warrior Project in Grand Rapids, Michigan, brought veterans out for the day, many of whom continued with rowing, canoeing and kayaking into 2015 for social interaction and physical exercise.
For information or preregistration (encouraged but not required), contact Chris Meldrum at (630) 207-8337 or chris@saintcharlesrowing.com, or Karl Teske at (630) 247-7491 or kteske213@comcast.net.
About St. Charles Rowing Club
St. Charles Rowing Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable competitive juniors rowing program. We encourage by example good sportsmanship, a sense of camaraderie, and a commitment to excellence. It was founded in 2012, with the expressed intent to bring competitive rowing to the Fox River, acquaint the community with rowing, and engage 15-18 year olds to participate in the truest form of competition and team work. For information, visit www.saintcharlesrowing.com, like "St. Charles Rowing Club" on Facebook, or follow the club on Twitter @StCharlesRowing.
About St. Charles Canoe Club
The St. Charles Canoe Club is a recreational and racing canoe/kayak organization sponsored by the St. Charles Park District. Visit www.stcharlescanoeclub.com.
About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. It is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
About Red White & Blue
Team Red White & Blue's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to people in their community through physical and social activity. For more information, visit www.TeamRWB.org.