By Kyle LoJacono
Three years ago Mary Jane and Jim Kranendonk lost their oldest son Thomas in a tractor-trailer accident.
Thomas was killed almost instantly when a trailer he was backing up flipped over onto him. Working through the grief was very difficult and HPH Hospice helped the couple and their children, John and Robert, find some peace after Thomas’ passing.
“John did a camp for kids suffering through the grieving process,” Mary Jane said. “HPH Hospice does a lot for families and kids in similar situations. It was hard, but they really helped our family so we wanted to give back in any way we could.”
To help raise money for the organization, Mary Jane’s group, the Land O’ Lakes Rowing Club, and Bay Area Watersports will host Row and Paddle for Hospice. The event is at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Lake Saxon Park off Lake Saxon Drive in Land O’ Lakes.
“We’re encouraging people to bring their own boats to the event,” Mary Jane said. “We will also have drawings for coupons and other things from local businesses, a food vendor and a massage therapist to give people rubdowns before or after they go out on the boats.”
Denny Andram, of north Carrollwood, from the Stewards Foundation will bring his Tampa-based rowing team to compete against the Land O’ Lakes rowers.
“Mary Jane began rowing in one of our adult classes awhile back,” Andram said. “We wanted to be a part of this to support her in starting her own group.”
Spectators are encouraged to bring a chair to watch. Rowers need to be at least 15-years-old to participate in the races.
All the money raised from registration and part of what comes in from food and massages will go to the hospice.
“We wouldn’t be able to do the camps for children without help from people like Mary Jane,” said Laura Finch, HPH Hospice manager of bereavement services and children assistance programs. “My heart can’t express how much she does for us. She speaks so kindly of what we do, but really it’s people like her that allow us to offer these programs.”
Finch, of Wesley Chapel, said children like John have one to three one-on-one meetings for free with a hospice counselor. Then they can go on a weekend camping trip where they do activities with up to 80 children to help cope with their loss. Finch said they usually ask for a $10 donation for the camp, but do not turn people away if they cannot afford it.
For more information on HPH Hospice, call (727) 863-7971.
Mary Jane, who is a physical education teacher at Denham Oaks Elementary in Lutz, started the rowing club at the beginning of this year. It currently has 15 members, all women in their 40s and 50s. Members come from mainly Land O’ Lakes, but also Lutz, Odessa and Brooksville.
One of the members who has been with the group for several months is Valerie Voelker. She had never done rowing before joining the group.
“I’ve never done a competitive team sport like this before,” said Voelker, of Land O’ Lakes. “I did track in high school, but this is a challenge because it’s a team. You have to learn to work together and learn each other’s strengths to get anywhere. Most of the time there are new people during our mornings rowing, so we get to meet new people too.
“Mary Jane motivates us all,” Voelker continued. “Her coaching and educational background makes it easy for her to encourage us.”
The group rows Saturday or Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
Mary Jane enjoys doing the adult rowing club, but also wants to expand it to high schools as a club sport.
“It’s her passion,” Voelker said. “She wants to get rowing up and running in the area because it’s such a good time.”
The day will include races and demonstrations with rowing shells, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats. The event is $5 for those who register before the event or $10 at the event. Event-day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. To sign up, call (813) 996-4718 or e-mail .
