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Rowing therapy thrills retired
teacher
September 10, 2003 The discipline of rowing helped Great Neck retiree Vicki Merten in the physical and mental recovery from cancer. Four years ago, getting ready for school for Vicki Merten meant more than reviewing lecture notes or packing a lunch. It meant preparing, mentally and physically, to endure one in a series of 36 radiation treatments she received at the start of each school day. Beneath the composed exterior her students saw, Merten was in the fight of her life against breast cancer. Now - three lumpectomies, one mastectomy and countless rounds of chemotherapy and radiation later - she's the winner.
Supportive friends, family and her dog helped in the recovery. Merten gives many kudos to her husband Chuck, a member of the United Federation of Teachers, the New York State United Teachers affiliate in New York City schools. And then there's rowing. "I've always been really athletic," she said. "Even when I had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, I worked out, ran and walked." After friends told her that a shell of breast cancer survivors rowed in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Merten joined a rowing club during her recovery. The following summer, she attended a rowing camp sponsored by WECanRow (Women Enduring Cancer Row), a program that helps breast cancer survivors overcome cancer through rowing. WECanRow is an offshoot of Row As One, a women's rowing group that organizes "One In Nine," the boat rowed by breast cancer survivors in the Head of Charles Regatta. Merten's training paid off. After submitting a letter to Row As One detailing her rowing experience and 4,000-meter rowing time, she was selected for the 2002 "One In Nine" team. "Only three boats of women have done this - it only started in 2000," said Merten. "It's pretty incredible I was selected." After having only a few practices as a team before the event, Merten's boat finished 23rd out of a class of 32. "We faced some pretty stiff competition - the winners were the 1980 U.S. Women's Olympic rowing team," said Merten with a laugh. "It was one of the most exciting things I've ever done," she said. - Kara E. Smith |
NEWS TEAM RESULTS
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