Peoria’s CREW309 ready to take cancer survivors into big rowing competition

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — There are people on the Illinois River beating cancer.

And they are about to bring their story outside of Peoria.

Women rowing in boats can be seen on the river throughout the summer. They are part of a 70-member club called CREW 309, which stands for Cancer Recovery by Empowering Women.

Every one of them is a cancer survivor.

“We celebrate being able to move, said CREW309 member Stephanie McAllister. “You want to move, this gives you a reason to move. I can do things now that I couldn’t do 20 years ago.”

McAllister was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and underwent five surgeries a year later.

CREW309 has been around since 2017 with six women at the first rowing practice. Next month CREW309 does something it has never done before.

The ladies will compete in a huge regatta in Boston called “Head of the Charles” in Boston.

“It’s a huge deal, the Super Bowl of rowing,” said CREW309 executive director Lindsay Vlaminck. This is what it feels like on a huge international stage. To be invited to participate and bring awareness to what we are doing.”

Vlaminck will tell you CREW309 is really about support and about bringing women together in their cancer journeys. Competing was never really on anyone’s radar.

Until now.

The Head of The Charles Regatta has been around for 59 years and typically attracts hundreds of thousands of rowers to the banks of the Charles River. CREW309 will be a part of an exhibition race with ten other boats.

“We are not college athletes, we are older,” said McAllister. “But we are doing it and competing. Talk about something outside the box!”

CREW309 leaves for Boston on Oct. 17 and will race on Oct. 19.

Laurel McLean/CREW 309: “We’ve been able to conquer breast cancer and be on the water. We are set up to do fine with this,” said CREW309 member Laurel McKean, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.

“Plus I can tell my grandkids someday what grandma did at age 49.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.