Brookline's Power Rowing Organizing Charity Challenge Helps the Community

Power Rowing is helping people get in shape and pay it forward.

The Brookline business is hosting a two month event to benefit local charities. Owner Bryan Fuller opened the rowing studio in August of 2017.

Rowing he said, changed his life, and after working for 12 years as an accountant, he decided to open the power rowing studio.

“Rowing is such a great alternative to some of the other exercises out there, rowing is very, very low-impact and impact is so important,” Fuller said. “Also rowing uses about 86 percent of your muscles, which is awesome.”

Beyond sharing the benefits of a great workout, Fuller places an emphasis on community, both inside and outside the studio.

“I always want to give back to the community,” said Fuller. “I want to be involved.”

At the beginning of April, he launched the Power Rowing Charity Challenge. From April 1 until May 31, 10 teams of four are competing to row the highest number of meters each week. By the end of the two-month period, the team with the most distance logged will win a pot of money to donate to the organization of their choice.

In organizing the event, Fuller only gave two criteria to participants – that their charities must be local and they must be small.

The result is a list of 10 diverse organizations ranging from the Brookline Arts Center and My Life, My Choice to Delta Dogs and the MSPCA were supported by Power Rowing's efforts.

‘A place where you can make friends’

Fuller seems to have achieved his mission to build community. There is a strong sense of camaraderie within the studio and the competition has attracted participants of all ages.

Marva Tomer is competing with her husband and two children.

“We were looking for something we could do together,” Tomer said.

The competition has been such a hit, Tomer said, that her kids want to continue rowing even after it ends.

Like Tomer’s family, the competition has inspired other participants to spend more time in the studio.

Fuller said some participants are coming in as much as six times a week.

While competition is high, the event has brought many of the participants together.

“It’s not just a place to row, it’s a place where you can make friends and care about causes,” said participant Dawn Ludwig who is hoping to win the competition for My Life, My Choice.

At the end of the competition, Power Rowing will host a gala where the winning team will receive a check to donate to their organization. The gala will also feature an auction with prizes donated by local businesses and organizations.