Rowers model for fundraiser

Courtesy / Thomas Connolly
A photo from the Rowing Teams calendar last year; the team will be selling this years calendar in Kirkhof Center from 9-11 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week.

Courtesy / Thomas Connolly A photo from the Rowing Team’s calendar last year; the team will be selling this year’s calendar in Kirkhof Center from 9-11 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week.

Maddie Forshee

The men of Grand Valley State University’s varsity rowing team are taking off their shirts the second year in a row for their calendar fundraiser, which brings in money for them to travel to England once again in the summer of 2016. After first debuting the calendar last year, the team sold more than 400 copies and hopes to sell that and more this year.

GVSU’s rowing crew travels to England every three years to represent the university at the Henley Royal Regatta — a five-day rowing competition in London that features rowing teams from all over the world. Some teams traveled to London from the United States, Ireland, Germany New Zealand and Australia, among others.

With all the cost of traveling, along with lodging, renting equipment and other expenses for the London trip, raising money is essential.

“The calendar is a great way to fundraise. It’s a fun way to show others what we do,” said club president Costas Cuingan.

The calendar also features a full schedule of the rowing team’s competitions.

“It was completely the boys’ idea to do the calendar, and when I first saw the finished product last year I loved it, and I’m glad they’re doing it again this year,” coach John Bancheri said. “I’m really proud of all that they’ve done with it.”

Bancheri said the calendar is a testament to the members’ dedication to the program.

All the proceeds from the calendar go directly into the Head for Henley fund that the team set up through GVSU, which will benefit both the women’s and men’s crew teams for their next trip to the Henley Royal Regatta. The team will be selling the calendars in the Kirkhof Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The calendars are $10 for students and $15 for non-students and can be purchased through www.grandvalleyrowing.com; calendars will be sent to buyers for a $5 shipping charge.

Students can also pick a calendar up from a team member on campus by emailing [email protected]. To make a donation directly to the team, www.visit gvsu.edu/giving. To learn more or to purchase a calendar, go to www.grandvalleyrowing.com.