Miles of Hope Poughkeepsie

The Miles of Hope Regatta event has been a beloved tradition at the Hudson River Rowing Association for 16 years, bringing together athletes, families, volunteers, and supporters from across the region. It’s a powerful mix of competition, community, and a cause that hits close to home.

A Tradition Rooted in Love and Action

The regatta was started in 2008 by Kelly Kranz and Nicole Rooney, who were both seniors at John Jay High School and members of the Wappingers Crew Club at the time. Kelly had learned about the Row for the Cure organization and brought the idea to Nicole, whose mother, Debbie Rooney, had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and later with uterine cancer in 2006. Inspired by the cause, the two decided to launch the event together.

“It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be,” Nicole admitted. “At one point, we thought it was going to fall apart. My dad (Bill Rooney) was such a big help in doing everything—he really stepped in and helped us pull it together.” Nicole also rowed during the summer with the HRRA masters team, where she met Sarah Herman, a cancer survivor and fellow rower, further strengthening her connection to the cause.

What truly sets the Miles of Hope Regatta apart is the energy, camaraderie, and heart of our scholastic rowers. For these student-athletes, it’s more than just another race—it’s the grand finale of the spring season. And for seniors, it marks the end of their scholastic rowing years with pride and celebration for a worthy cause.

After that first regatta, Nicole’s father, Bill Rooney, continued to run the event alongside the Wappingers Crew Club for many years. The inaugural event raised $4,500. By 2019, that number had grown to a total of $88,000. A true testament to what an amazing community we have!

Survivor Boats: Rowing for Hope

Every year the regatta has boats filled with survivors of cancer, the Survivor Boats. They come from all over the northeast. For years, HRRA has had a Survivor Mixed 4+ with master rowers Kate Brisky, Sarah Herman, Rich Humphrey, and a former Rhinebeck scholastic rower Casey Heady.

What will we see this year?

This event is anything but ordinary. Expect a day full of fast-paced races, fun costumes, and school spirit in full force. Will we see boys in tutus? Spiderman racing down the lane? Girls as glittering mermaids or magical unicorns? Absolutely! It’s all part of what makes this regatta a joyful, lighthearted celebration of teamwork and resilience. One of the most touching moments comes at the end of the day, when rowers raise their oars high to form a ceremonial arch. One by one, the graduating seniors walk through, cheered on by their teammates and welcomed by their families—a moment of pride and a rite of passage they’ll never forget.

Raffles, Merch, and Ice Cream

Since 2022, the regatta is now called Miles of Hope and has grown into a cornerstone of the HRRA’s calendar. It’s organized with passion and care by a dedicated team of HRRA volunteers.  Besides all the proceeds raised from rowing entries, there is a fantastic array of themed gift baskets to raffle, contributed by all the boathouse clubs. And of course there will be regatta t-shirts, and ice cream to eat. All proceeds go to the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation to serve people affected by cancer in the Hudson Valley.