By Kyle LoJacono
The Land O’ Lakes Rowing Club’s Row and Paddle for Hospice event brought about 60 people to Lake Saxon Park in Land O’ Lakes Oct. 23.
The goal was to raise money for the HPH Hospice and the club brought in $1,550 for the organization.
“The atmosphere was fun and exciting and everyone wants to do it again next year,” said Mary Jane Kranendonk, founder of the club. “The Stewards Foundation brought their crews and were nice enough to leave another rowing shell for our Land O’ Lakes team to use. Overall it was a wonderful day.”
The event included rowing and paddling demonstrations, races, food vendors and massages for those who wanted to loosen up their muscles before or after the exercise.
The money raised will go to the hospice, which helped the Kranendonk family deal with the loss of Kranendonk’s oldest son, Thomas, three years ago.
Laura Finch, of Wesley Chapel, is HPH’s manager of bereavement services and children assistance programs. She said it is the generosity of people like Kranendonk and the club that make it possible for them to help families in grief.
The club has about 15 members who are mainly from Land O’ Lakes, but also has rowers from Lutz, Odessa and one from Brooksville. The group started earlier this year and rows Saturday or Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
For more information on the club, e-mail .
