The fifth annual Rowing to Remember will be held on Friday, June 16 at Forest View Lanes, 2345 Dean Rd., Temperance, Mich.
Event organizer Chris Heerdegen will row from 6 am to 10 pm, completing 72 miles to raise money for Alzheimer’s Disease research. He will be joined by team members and others during the day. In addition, a volleyball tournament will be held on site. Bowling from 10 am to 10 pm is available. Guests may rent lanes in 90 minute blocks. A percentage of sales from bowling, food, and beverages will be contributed to the Longest Day fundraising event.
Local band, Madison Avenue, will entertain starting at 6 pm, opening for country music star Jason Michael Carroll. His debut album, “Waitin’ In The Country,” produced three Top 40 hits and was number one on the US Country charts. His next two albums have charted on the billboard Top 200. Carroll is releasing his latest single, “Tell Me Your Name,” which is about his mother’s struggle with dementia.
After his father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Heerdegen began researching the disease and what could be done to prevent its onset or reduce the effects as all three male members of his dad’s family had also been diagnosed. He found indoor rowing to be a good sport for him. After his father died at age 72 in 2018, Heerdegen came up with Longest Day Challenge and Rowing to Remember became a way to honor his dad and raise awareness at the same time.
According to Heerdegen, he set a goal to row 7,200 meters for each hour of daylight on the longest day, there are 16 hours of daylight from 6 am to 10 pm equals 115,200 meters. There are 1,600 meters in a mile and his 16-hour row equals exactly 72 miles.