Badgers compete in honor of teammate's father
October 09, 2015 | Women's Rowing
Women's rowing team rallies behind senior leader
MADISON, Wis. -- Parents Day 2015 was a special weekend for thousands of Badgers and their parents. The first night football game in nearly four years and perfect fall weather helped Badgers of all ages make unforgettable memories with the people who love them most.
For senior Sophie Carr on the women's rowing team, Parents Day 2015 was especially important.
Carr's dad, Mark, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in April of 2015. Despite his illness he attended Parents Day on Sept. 26 with his wife, Margaret, to watch their daughter row and enjoy a perfect fall weekend in Madison.
Mark Carr passed away just a few days later on September 30th. Carr's teammates immediately rallied to support their senior leader.
"Scarr (Sophie Carr) is our charismatic leader," sophomore coxswain Lily Hansen said. "She's willing to help anyone and she always has a smile on her face. She's such a great role model on the team."
Carr returned to Madison this week to resume school and, of course, to row.
"She came back on Monday. Everyone gave her big hugs and then she got back on the water," head coach Bebe Bryans said.
The team has come together to honor Carr's father at the Head of the Rock regatta in Rockford, Illinois on Oct. 11.
Everyone will wear blue t-shirts, the ALS Society color, during the race with `Carr 88' on the back to create awareness for the disease. Immediately after the race they will load the bus to attend Mark Carr's service.
"This is such a big race for us, but if [supporting Sophie] meant not going, we wouldn't have gone," Bryans said. "There was never a question.
"This is almost perfect. The team can race together as a family and then go attend his celebration with Sophie."
Along with making t-shirts and attending the service, the team created a fundraising website to raise money to fight ALS. They have already raised over $2,000.
"Since she's been back she hasn't fallen behind. She is positive, attentive and still giving it her all," Hansen said.
Carr's father fought a hard fight, much like what Carr and her teammates will do on the water on Oct. 11. Their preparation and execution will look similar to many races before, but if you ask Carr's teammates they will tell you this race will be different.
"Her father decided to celebrate every day and that's what we are doing now," Bryans said. "She knows how much this team loves her and we know how much she means to us."
Carr will lead her team on Oct. 11 like she has many times, but this weekend she will lead with more support and guidance than she has ever had before.
Anyone interested in helping the women's rowing team raise money to fight ALS can visit this website. All donations will go directly to the ALS Association's Wisconsin Chapter to fund research, services for those affected by ALS and programs for raising public awareness.
