More Than a Race: Survivor Rowing Network Returns to HOCR
More Than a Race
At JL Racing, we’ve been fortunate to work alongside the Survivor Rowing Network, a community that brings cancer survivors together through rowing, movement, and shared experience.
Through the stories of its members, the impact of the Survivor Rowing Network goes far beyond the boat. Dr. Karen Blessey of Survivor Rowing Club in New Orleans shared what rowing has meant in her life after cancer - and what taking the starting line at HOCR represents for her team.
A New Kind of Recovery
For Dr. Karen Blessey, rowing started with a simple goal: creating a meaningful way for cancer survivors to improve their health through exercise. As both a physician and a breast cancer survivor, she understood firsthand the role movement could play in life after treatment. What began as an effort to support other survivors quickly became something much larger.
Rowing itself was completely new territory. Growing up in the South, Blessey says she had never considered the sport before discovering the Survivor Rowing Network and the community surrounding it. She was initially drawn to the combination of speed, grace, and synchronization she saw on the water.
“Rowing transformed my recovery from simply surviving cancer to truly thriving after cancer.” - Dr. Karen Blessey, 2026
Back to The Charles
For SRN, the Head of the Charles Regatta is about much more than a finish time.
When asked what competing at this year's race means to her, Blessey puts it simply:
Competing at Head of the Charles as a cancer survivor is both a celebration and a statement. - Dr. Karen Blessey, 2026
For Blessey, it’s a celebration of life, health, and opportunities that once may not have seemed possible - but also a visible reminder that a cancer diagnosis does not get the final word.
She also describes the experience of looking around the Charles and seeing other survivor crews on the water as a reminder of everything the community has overcome and continues to accomplish together.
What SRN has in Store for HOCR 2026
Looking toward HOCR 2026, the team’s goals aren’t defined entirely by the clock. “My biggest goal is simply to savor the experience.” (Dr. Karen Blessey, 2026).
Just reaching the starting line represents something significant. Blessey says many members of the team could not have imagined themselves competing at an event like Head of the Charles not long ago. This year, success will be measured not only by where they finish, but by the confidence, support, and courage it took to get there.
“Success isn’t measured solely by our finish time. It’s measured by the courage it took to get to the starting line.”
Support SRN Through the Pre-Order Store
At JL, we’re proud to help SRN put its mission out into the world in a way people can see and wear. This collection was built around SRN branding, survivor-focused graphics, and cancer-awareness ribbons so every piece can help spark a conversation, build recognition, and show support for the community. With 10% of net sales from the pre-order store donated back to SRN, the gear does more than represent the network — it helps support its continued growth.
Shop the collection to rep the community, support the mission, and celebrate the athletes who continue to show what strength can look like on and off the water.
The store is only open for a limited time, so be sure to place your order before October 20th, 2026.
Learn More + Get Involved
The Survivor Rowing Network is bigger than one race, one crew, or one weekend at HOCR.
Whether you are a cancer survivor interested in rowing, a current member looking to stay connected, a rowing club interested in starting a survivor program, or simply someone who wants to support the mission, SRN makes it easy to get involved.
Learn more about the network, find a program, stay up to date, or connect with the SRN community directly.
