The Lake Lanier Rowing Club is getting set to offer a free program for those who have been diagnosed with cancer.
The club announced the program this past week, saying the indoor program will be offered to individuals who have either been recently diagnosed or are in treatment or any stage of recovery. The program will be 12 weeks, open to men and women of any age and ability and is set to begin the second week of January, 2025.
"There is a long list of health benefits our members experience through their participation in rowing," LLRC Executive Director Howell Buot said in a release. "Whether rowing in a boat on the water or done as part of a group on an indoor rowing machine, the physical and mental health benefits are widely supported by the medical community and we're really excited to introduce this as our first program for the new year."
Classes will be led by Dan Lynch, who is a survivor of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"When I was first diagnosed in 2018, I was just 56 and had just learned how to row," Lynch said. "Throughout all my tests, surgeries, treatments, side-effects and other procedures, indoor rowing became my only constant. I'm so grateful to now be in a position to share the benefits of rowing with others."
An open house for those interested in the program will be held Friday, December 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A second open house will be held Saturday, January 11 during the same hours.
Both open houses and all classes in the program will be held in the LLRC facility on Clark's Bridge Road at Lake Lanier Olympic Park near Gainesville. While the classes are free, the club says there will be a one-time registration fee of $5.
