Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Junk.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Recovery on Water (ROW) started in 2007 as a collaboration between myself, Jenn Junk (rowing coach) and Sue Ann Glaser (breast cancer survivor). After learning about the benefits of exercise for breast cancer survivors, I wanted to start a rowing team here in Chicago. Sue Ann was a survivor from the east coast, familiar with rowing but had never rowed herself. After her treatment, she wanted to do everything she could to stay alive and he doctor recommended that she start exercising. We met spontaneously after I hosted an open house for survivors at the Dammrich Rowing Center. Sue Ann and I have been building ROW ever since. We now serve women from all over the city and suburbs, row 7 days a week, year-round and in three locations. The program is focused on exercise but it’s also a great opportunity for support. Rowing requires teamwork, perseverance and determination. The women of ROW form bonds with one another because of their experience and become athletes sometimes for the first time in their lives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Challenges we’ve faced as the organization has grown are common for most startups. Change (even positive growth) can be hard for founding team and board members to accept. The way we’ve combatted this is by establishing a values statement that we live by and make decisions alongside. Raising funds is always a challenge and an ongoing need but we’ve worked to diversify our funding pool to include events, grants, corporate sponsors and individual donors.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Recovery on Water, ROW – what should we know?
ROW makes a measurable impact on the women we serve. Our goal is to increase exercise consistency (how much someone works out) and improve quality of life.
In 2017, we increased the frequency of exercise for the survivors in our program by 78%, through data we’ve collected we have learned that 95% of ROW survivors explained that being a part of ROW has changed how they view themselves in a positive way and that 100% of respondents said they would (and they did!) recommend ROW to other patients and survivors of breast cancer.
The community we have at ROW sets our team apart from other support groups. We’re focused on keeping cancer at bay but the real focus is rowing, teamwork, and moving forward with life. We are about what you can do, not about what cancer says you can’t.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
The community is everything to me. The culture we have developed as a team, coaching staff and board are perhaps the accomplishments I am most proud of in my life. We are a family and have grown from a tiny handful of women led by volunteers to the thriving organization we are today. You better believe there were growing pains- and we got through and will continue to get through them together. Our board and leaders focus on being transparent with how decisions are made and keeping the mission of ROW at the core of all we do. Without community and a positive culture, we can’t grow or operate at our best and do this important work.
We have a lot of positive people on our team and staff and I think that comes from sharing a passion for such a beautiful sport. It’s hard not to smile when you get on the water and get in a great workout with friends. It’s hard not to smile as a coach, being out in a motorboat, motivating a crew as the sun sets with the Chicago skyline in view.
It’s also important for our team to be positive as often as we can because cancer can make us feel powerless at times. We have lost team members over the years, and it’s a reminder that despite our best efforts, this disease claims far too many lives. Without a positive attitude, the women on the team could choose to focus on this and become paralyzed with the fear of recurrence. Staying positive and focusing on what we can do (instead of what we can’t) is extremely important.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago IL 60609
- Website: recoveryonwater.org
- Phone: 3125053568
- Email: jenn@recoveryonwater.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RecoveryOnWater/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveryonwater/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/recoveryonwater?lang=en
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