Rare Open House Event On Boathouse Row Saturday, April 2nd Benefits Long-time Rower & Coach Fred Durling, 12 Noon to 4 p.m.
The rowers of Philadelphia's Boathouse Row open their doors to the public for a rare open house on Saturday, April 2nd, from 12 Noon to 4 p.m. The open house benefits long-time rower and beloved coach Fred Duling, who is undergoing rehabilitation for recent spinal cord injuries.
Tickets are available at two locations on Philadelphia's historic Boathouse Row beginning at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, at a tent outside boathouse #4, and also at a tent outside the lighthouse. The tour starts at the south end of Boathouse Row (closest to the Philadelphia Art Museum). Tickets are $25 for the open house tour, $40 for the open house tour and a boxed lunch. Student tickets for the tour are $15. Children under age 12 are admitted for free.
This is only the second time in a decade that the dozen landmark buildings have been open for public tours, the last time was in 2008. It's a rare treat to experience the great history and architecture of these great boathouses, that serve as a Philadelphia icon, while meeting people involved in the great sport of rowing. The afternoon will be filled with rowing-related activities and fun. Among the highlights:
*Philadelphia City Rowing (PCR) boats will be on display, with student rowers onsite to talk about Philadelphia City Rowing;
*Pennsylvania Barge Club will have members of the Whitemarsh Boat Club set up on the building's porch with membership information and information on "learn to row" programs;
*Crescent Boat Club features a Rolling Barrel Beer tasting;
*Bachelor's Barge Club will have a college placement advisor from Collegian International;
*University Barge Club will have Olympic Gold medalist Susan Francia speaking with visitors;
*Malta Boat Club will be selling box lunches;
*Penn Athletic Club will have artists displaying their work, as well as an opportunity to meet Olympic Silver medalist Renee Hykel;
*and Undine Barge Club will have Wintech Racing Shells on display.
In addition, representatives from Magee Rehabilitation will be on site to discuss sports medicine, along with some para-athletes who work with Magee Rehabilitation; enter a raffle for a chance to win a full "Learn to Row" program; and try rowing on a rowing machine.
The open house benefits the Fred H. Duling Rehabilitation Fund, which was set up for the well-loved rower and coach at Malta Boathouse who suffered a traumatic fall in December 2010 resulting in spinal cord injury. He has already undergone three spinal surgeries and is currently partially paralyzed and powering toward recovery.
Duling had represented the United States National Team three times, including events in Moscow and Copenhagen, and coached others to national and international championships. Duling inspires through the long, hard work of rehabilitation, grace in the face of adversity and has strong fan clubs at Jefferson University Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation and throughout the rowing community up and down the East coast and throughout the world.
Additional information is available at http://www.pullforfred.com/Pull_For_Fred/Pull_for_Fred.html.