Support Mike’s 62nd Birthday Row of Agony to Nowhere
Michael Psarouthakis
Executive Director of Impact Investments & Strategic Alliances @ the University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships | Co-founder Accelerate Blue Fund & Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund. I row, therefore I am.
2022 Mike’s 62nd Birthday Row of Agony to Nowhere (with a lot of help!) – Supporting Lymphoma, Breast Cancer and Orthopedic Research at Michigan Medicine.
It’s that time of year again! On Saturday, December 17th, my 62nd birthday, I will attempt to row 6,200 meters on my Concept2 rowing machine to help raise awareness and dollars for Breast Cancer, Lymphoma and (new this year) Orthopedic research at the University of Michigan and in celebration of 7 years of health for my wife Lisa and son Adam who fought cancer battles at the same time back in 2015.
Don't want to read further and get to the business of donating? Click the link: 2022 Mike’s 62nd Birthday Row of Agony to Nowhere
NOW HOLD ON A SECOND, 6,200 meters???? That's not very impressive….Didn’t you row 61,000 meters last year???
Well that is true, unfortunately I suffered a serious achilles tendon rupture in September. Once again Michigan Medicine came to the rescue for our family, with the help of the fantastic Dr. James Holmes and his team at U-M Sports Medicine they patched me up and have successfully directed my recovery to date. As a result, just for this year I will be raising funds to support cancer and orthopedic research at Michigan Medicine.
A new twist given my current limitations I need your help to row my total birthday meters, 62,000, and help raise awareness of this campaign. If you have access to a rowing machine at home, or a gym, please sign up to row some meters in support of this campaign on this Google Sheet between now and December 17th. If you do sign up to row, please spread the word on social media and share the link to this page as part of your commitment to row meters.
Given I have no idea how many people will actually want to row with me, I am hoping we can get to at least 62,000 meters rowed in total on the Google Sheet . Though it would be really cool if that number reached 620,000! 62 people rowing 10,000 meters between now and December 17th is all that would take.
There are many worthy calls to action this time of year, so the family and I greatly appreciate any amount of support you are willing to give (meters or dollars). Every dollar that is donated will be split this year in support of Lymphoma, Breast Cancer and Orthopedic research at Michigan Medicine.
This “Row to Nowhere” started seven years ago in December, when the Psarouthakis clan was going through challenging times. Specifically, my amazing wife Lisa, and wonderful son Adam, were fighting cancer battles at the same time. Adam had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during his junior year at the University of Michigan and Lisa was having her own fight with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ or DCIS Breast Cancer.
Both had the good fortune to receive treatment at the world-renowned University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.
The good news…..seven years out, both Lisa and Adam are cancer-free and doing great! This fundraiser is in celebration of this very happy 7 year anniversary. We are so grateful, but many still suffer from these cancers as well as orthopedic injuries and that is what this is all about.
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Most importantly the Rogel Cancer Center and Michigan Orthopedics needs your support to help find the cures and treatments for these horrible cancers and injuries!
Last year we raised a remarkable $10,675, so all I am asking is to break that goal by one measly dollar! Help me get to the goal of raising $10,676 by making a donation of any amount!
The stats and why research continues to be so important!
Breast cancer is the third leading cause of death for women in the U.S. The good news is that breast cancer is a disease that can be treated and cured. Your gifts will support ongoing and new Breast Cancer research at the Rogel Cancer Center Breast Cancer Program.
In 2022, there are expected to be over 86,000 cases of lymphoma diagnosed in the US. There are approximately 800,000 people living with, or in remission from, lymphoma in the US. The good news is survival rates have skyrocketed and continue to improve. Your gifts will support ongoing and new research at the Rogel Cancer Center Lymphoma Program.
An estimated 126.6 million Americans (one in two adults) are affected by a musculoskeletal challenges--comparable to the total percentage of Americans living with a chronic lung or heart condition--costing an estimated $213 billion in annual treatment, care and lost wages, according to a report issued by the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI). My recovery from the achilles rupture is due to a relatively new surgery technique and more research is needed to accelerate recovery and minimize the impact of what can be devastating injuries life altering injuries. Your donation will support research to advance orthopedic research at Michigan Medicine.
Sign up to row here Google Sheet
Thank you and happy holidays.
Row on and Go Blue! - Mike Psarouthakis