Cairns Rowing Club raising funds for COUCH

##MP##

A rowing crew is always eye-catching, gliding across the water with teamwork and grace, barely raising a ripple.

This one stands out more than most. The boat is pink, the crew is wearing pink, and they’re rowing in honour of the woman for whom the boat is named.

Amanda Jessop-Shaw died of breast cancer in early 2019.

Late on Friday afternoon, the Cairns Rowing Club will put a crew in the water on Trinity Inlet, rowing to remember her and raise funds for the Cairns Organisation United for Cancer Health, widely known as COUCH.

##BA##

Amanda’s husband, Richard Shaw, said the fundraiser has become an annual event in support of an organisation helping people affected by all forms of cancer.

“We launch the boat at the northern end of the Esplanade, row it down right along there, and then come in to Muddies where we’ll present a cheque to COUCH with whatever we raise.

“We’re hoping to raise a thousand dollars.

“We’ve got three OC6s from the Outrigger Club coming along.

“And Kryssi O’Hare Siplon, who owns Getfit Results Training, my late wife was her initial customer, and I’m a customer too.

“She’s going to trying to organise a pink run, in association with what we’re doing.”

The Cairns Rowing Club got the boat in 2019, and Richard said it was always going to be pink, the colour of breast cancer awareness.

“It’s the only rowing eight that's pink in Australia, and the only one that has the breast cancer awareness ribbons on it.

 “We asked Rowing Queensland if it would be appropriate that whenever we row that boat, we could wear pink rowing suits and caps. They agreed to that.

##PQ##

Amanda Jessop-Shaw was the Cairns airport and cargo manager for Cathay Pacific for 29 years, helping to set up their 747 operations there in 1993.

Richard said Amanda was a popular member of the Cairns community.

“Fantastic, outgoing, very community aware. Everybody loved her.”

You can support the fundraising row via the Cairns Rowing Club Facebook event