An Important Note from U.S. Men's Coach Luke McGee: The Matt Farrer Fund

Sketch from Farrer's Husky Crew profile image
We received the following from U.S. men's coach Luke McGee, who is reaching out to the rowing community in support of his friend, former Washington Husky Matt Farrer:

"The secret to happiness is to find something you love and do it for the rest of your life. For me, that is rowing at Washington." —Matt Farrer

Matt Farrer is a rower battling colon cancer. He rowed at the Brooks School before making both the 1997 and 1998 U.S. junior national team. Matt earned a silver medal in the coxed four at the 1998 World Rowing Junior Championships. Farrer arrived at the University of Washington in the fall of 1998 and rowed all four years for the Huskies. It was a commitment he says taught him "discipline and perseverance under extreme conditions." Two characteristics he is now drawing upon to battle cancer.

In 2012, while working as a chef in Seattle, Matt was diagnosed with colon cancer. A visit to the emergency room revealed tumors on both his colon and liver. Matt has been living in the hospital for the past year receiving treatment and racking up substantial medical bills. Here is a video of Matt discussing a fundraiser in Seattle and his fight with cancer, and another of Matt looking over an album of rowing photos collected for him.

What are communities for if not to support one another?

The mission is simple. We are asking the rowing community to help Matt raise funds to pay his medical bills. Your donation will allow Matt to maintain the level of care necessary to win his fight with cancer.

If you'd like to help Matt in his battle please click here and select "Saint James, Matt Farrer Care Fund" in the drop-down menu. All donations are being run through Big Table.

"Washington rowing is where fury and beauty come together." —Matt Farrer

-Luke McGee

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