Wisconsin rowing takes on childhood brain cancer
February 10, 2020 | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing, Lightweight Rowing
Fourth annual ERG Challenge raises funds to support neuroscience research
MADISON, Wis. — Top rowers from the University of Wisconsin will face off against Virginia, Princeton, Duke, Syracuse, MIT and Colgate in the fourth annual Connor's ERG Challenge. The virtual, 100-kilometer indoor machine-rowing competition raises funds to fight childhood brain cancer and takes place at the participating universities Feb. 8-13. The Badgers will compete on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Porter Boathouse.
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The Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation was created in June 2013 in memory of Robert 'Connor' Dawes who at 18 years of age, lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer. The Foundation's mission is to battle pediatric brain cancer, which kills more children than any other disease, "through research, care and development projects – funding the science to end pediatric brain cancer and support patients in the meantime,'' said Liz Dawes, Connor's mom and RCD founder and CEO.Â
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Connor's ERG Challenge is a literal show of strength against childhood brain cancer that is presented by the RCD Foundation and hosted by each participating university's rowing team. The teams compete individually and submit their times to the RCD Foundation; once times from all teams have been tabulated, the victors are named and the Connor Cup is awarded. "This year's event is also supported by two fantastic major sponsors – the Northwestern Mutual Foundation and Jacobus Energy," Dawes said.Â
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Following an impressive high school rowing career in Australia, Connor was looking forward to rowing in college and his parents' alma mater was one of his top choices. Liz Dawes '85 and her husband Scott Dawes '84, are UW-Madison alumni. UW–Madison rowers have participated since the event's inception.Â
"Connor's ERG Challenge serves as a way to honor Connor's passion for rowing while raising needed funds for brain cancer research at a university he held dear," Dawes said. This year Syracuse, Princeton, Colgate and MIT will also compete to take home the Connor Cup.
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The ERG Challenge has raised more than $90,000 during its first three years. The 2020 goal is to raise an additional $35,000 for brain cancer research through the event, Dawes said. One hundred percent of the funds raised at each school benefit the respective universities' neuroscience department.
"We're encouraging friends and alumni from each university to cheer on their team and support brain cancer research by making a donation," Dawes said. "Every dollar makes a difference in this fight'
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"Support from events like Connor's Erg Challenge helps to spur innovative research, because that kind of flexible funding provides brain tumor scientists with the ability to test new hypotheses and go in new scientific directions," said Dr. Michelle Monje, head of Stanford Medicine's Monje Lab. A practicing neurologist and neuro-oncologist, Dr. Monje is dedicated to understanding the neurodevelopmental origins of pediatric brain tumors.
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Winners of the 2019 Connor Cup were the Syracuse men's team and the Princeton women's team. The 2020 Connor's Erg Challenge includes its largest field of competitors, said Dawes, "It will be a race to the finish line for the Connor Cup."
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More information on the event, the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation and sponsorship and donor opportunities can be found at connorserg.com.
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About the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation (RCD)
Founded in June 2013 in Melbourne, Australia, the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation was created in memory of Robert Connor Dawes, who lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer at age 18. The RCD Foundation operates in Australia and the U.S., where brain cancer is the most fatal of all childhood cancers. The foundation funds research to end brain cancer as well as for the care and support of patients battling the disease. Learn more at rcdfoundation.org.
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The Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation was created in June 2013 in memory of Robert 'Connor' Dawes who at 18 years of age, lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer. The Foundation's mission is to battle pediatric brain cancer, which kills more children than any other disease, "through research, care and development projects – funding the science to end pediatric brain cancer and support patients in the meantime,'' said Liz Dawes, Connor's mom and RCD founder and CEO.Â
Connor's Erg 2020 from RCD Foundation on Vimeo.
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Connor's ERG Challenge is a literal show of strength against childhood brain cancer that is presented by the RCD Foundation and hosted by each participating university's rowing team. The teams compete individually and submit their times to the RCD Foundation; once times from all teams have been tabulated, the victors are named and the Connor Cup is awarded. "This year's event is also supported by two fantastic major sponsors – the Northwestern Mutual Foundation and Jacobus Energy," Dawes said.Â
Â
Following an impressive high school rowing career in Australia, Connor was looking forward to rowing in college and his parents' alma mater was one of his top choices. Liz Dawes '85 and her husband Scott Dawes '84, are UW-Madison alumni. UW–Madison rowers have participated since the event's inception.Â
"Connor's ERG Challenge serves as a way to honor Connor's passion for rowing while raising needed funds for brain cancer research at a university he held dear," Dawes said. This year Syracuse, Princeton, Colgate and MIT will also compete to take home the Connor Cup.
Â
The ERG Challenge has raised more than $90,000 during its first three years. The 2020 goal is to raise an additional $35,000 for brain cancer research through the event, Dawes said. One hundred percent of the funds raised at each school benefit the respective universities' neuroscience department.
"We're encouraging friends and alumni from each university to cheer on their team and support brain cancer research by making a donation," Dawes said. "Every dollar makes a difference in this fight'
Â
"Support from events like Connor's Erg Challenge helps to spur innovative research, because that kind of flexible funding provides brain tumor scientists with the ability to test new hypotheses and go in new scientific directions," said Dr. Michelle Monje, head of Stanford Medicine's Monje Lab. A practicing neurologist and neuro-oncologist, Dr. Monje is dedicated to understanding the neurodevelopmental origins of pediatric brain tumors.
Â
Winners of the 2019 Connor Cup were the Syracuse men's team and the Princeton women's team. The 2020 Connor's Erg Challenge includes its largest field of competitors, said Dawes, "It will be a race to the finish line for the Connor Cup."
Â
More information on the event, the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation and sponsorship and donor opportunities can be found at connorserg.com.
 Â
About the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation (RCD)
Founded in June 2013 in Melbourne, Australia, the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation was created in memory of Robert Connor Dawes, who lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer at age 18. The RCD Foundation operates in Australia and the U.S., where brain cancer is the most fatal of all childhood cancers. The foundation funds research to end brain cancer as well as for the care and support of patients battling the disease. Learn more at rcdfoundation.org.
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