6th Annual Pink the Boathouse Challenge
October 1 - November 30, 2025

Gather your friends, family, and teammates for the 6th Annual Pink the Boathouse Challenge—honoring the 122 cancer survivors and their coaches competing in the 2025 Head Of The Charles Regatta.

The Survivor Rowing Network (SRN) and the Head of the Charles have partnered to host the 2nd Annual HOCR Survivor Row on October 18, 2025, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, 13 eights and 1 quad of cancer survivors from four countries will take on the Charles. Backed by 20+ coaches and hundreds of volunteers, these athletes are preparing for the race of their lives.

Also racing this weekend is SRN member Ellen Kennelly, competing in the Women's Veterans Single. Ellen is a rower, artist and survivor. She walked on to the rowing team at Radcliffe, and subsequently had a long career as a rower, winning the Charles ten times in the single.

While each survivor has already won their greatest race, they’re ready to conquer the 4,702-meter Charles course. For many, it will be their first time down this iconic stretch of water—an unforgettable moment of resilience, strength, and community.

"At the HOCR Survivor Row, we will see the confluence of teamwork, physical power, community and confidence in our minds’ and bodies’ ability to grow stronger, all flowing into one big beautiful river. What is more healing than that?"
- Anne Carpenter CCRA Survivor Vikings - first time HOCR participant.

Join the Challenge!

Take on the same distance our survivors will row:

Row/Erg: 4,702 meters (length of the Charles course)
BikeERG: 9,404 meters (enter in the Row/Erg category)
Run/Walk: 3.2 miles
Participate anytime October 1 – November 30
Join solo or form a team—participate in-person or virtually

This challenge is open to everyone, of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re on the water, on the erg, or on your local trails, you’ll be part of a global movement supporting cancer survivors.

Why It Matters

“When people are learning to row, the cancer sits outside the boat for that period of time, and it’s replaced by something new. Once they’re on the water, they’re blown away by the sum of their strength.”
— Holly Metcalf, Founder, Survivor Rowing

Funds raised through the Pink the Boathouse Challenge support the growth of Survivor Rowing worldwide—providing funding, and community for cancer survivors in recovery. Our goal is to introduce more cancer survivors to rowing - in boats and on ergs.

Rowing Through Cancer Together!

How You Can Participate

Join the Movement

Exercise is medicine. Research shows physical activity supports recovery, reduces recurrence, and improves mental health. With 18 million survivors in the U.S. and millions more worldwide, the need is urgent and growing. Please help us spread the word.

Our goal is clear: to bring rowing to as many survivors as possible, creating opportunities to thrive both on and off the water.

Thank you for your continued support—you make this movement possible.

Click here to learn more about the Survivor Rowing Network

Thank You To Our Partners

Pink the Boathouse Challenge 2025

6th Annual Pink the Boathouse Challenge October 1 - November 30, 2025

Team Leaderboard

Team Members