"I had never done anything like this," says Deb Gollus of Rochester, who participates in the women's oncology rowing program at Camp Good Days and Special Times.
Gollus, 57, who works for Thompson Health in Canandaigua, says: "I had no idea what these boats even looked like."
"It just infuses energy, and shows us that we can go beyond anything we have done physically before," says Pat Bernhard, 64, of Honeoye Falls.
Bernhard and Gollus are both cancer survivors who say the program has tested them in new ways and built a sense of community with other survivors.
The rowing program is called Naiades, named for mythical fresh water nymphs or goddesses whose existence depended on the water but who were thought by the Greeks to bring to the waters inspirational, medicinal or even prophetic powers.
It seemed like a perfect name for the groups, says Jen Shulman, a former Camp Good Days waterfront director and now a volunteer rowing coach. The women "love being on the water," Shulman says. "Rowing is a respite for these ladies, a vehicle to recovery, and it makes them feel alive."
The Naiades program was inspired by a similar one in Boston, where a group of breast cancer survivors raced in the well-known Head of the Charles Regatta in 2001. It took a few years to move from idea to reality, but Naiades launched three years ago and now includes about 30 women, some of whom are beginners, some of whom are purely recreational rowers, and some of whom now compete.
The latter group rowed last year in the Pittsford Regatta and the October Head of the Genesee Regatta. They hope to compete this October in the Head of the Charles.
The groups practices during the winter at the Pittsford Indoor Rowing Center, and then in the summer on both the canal and river, working from the Genesee Waterways Center near Genesee Valley Park. They purchased a new 60-foot boat this winter in conjunction with the University of Rochester.
"It's a wonderful full-body workout," Bernhard says. "The hardest part is eight old ladies carrying a 60-foot boat that weighs 300 pounds," she jokes. The new boat, by the way, is 100 pounds lighter.
"Fishing and water never really clicked for me," says Lisa Gesinger, 46, of Webster. "I thought I'd do this just to be with other women who've had cancer." But, she says, she quickly fell in love with the workout, the water and the camaraderie.
"This is so much different from anything I've ever done."
"It's a whole team effort," says Terrie Mahoney, 47, of Farmington, Ontario County. "Everybody works like a machine, and if everyone is doing the same thing at the same time, it's a very smooth ride. If not, well... "
Rowing at twilight on the calm waters of the canal or river is itself a very peaceful experience.
Being on the water is part of the joy of rowing, Shulman says. Seeing the canal walls or the riverbank whiz by as the oars slice through the water is very appealing.
"You do have to take your cues from the person in front of you," says Roxanne Zambito, 61, of Hamlin. "The idea is to get your oars in the water at the same time with the same pressure."
"I will give up almost anything to go and row," says Nancy Harter, 51, of Greece. "I just love the feel of it." She loves the team effort, learning to work through some pain, and learning how to support the other women.
"We all have out little quirks or weaknesses because of cancer," she says. "But we help each other, and you can just feel the strength coming back."
LINK: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080413/NEWS0201/804130353/1002/NEWS
Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, indoor rowing, rowing technique.
http:cgdrowing.googlepages.com
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