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By Allison Frykman, executive director, Norcal Crew.

Norcal Crew, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of youth through the sport of rowing, will hold its annual fundraising drive, the erg-a-thon, on Sunday, Dec. 2, at Freemont Park in Menlo Park (on Santa Cruz Avenue at University Drive) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During the erg-a-thon, the athletes will attempt to row one million meters as a team on the ergometers -- land-based rowing machines -- and raise $45,000. The funds raised will be used primarily to purchase equipment for the team, including rowing shells, oars, a new exercise facility, and rowing machines. Donations to the cause can be made at www.piggybackr.com/norcal/erg-a-thon.

Norcal Crew is a competitive club rowing team of about 100 middle and high school students from across the San Francisco Peninsula. The team practices five to six days per week at the Bair Island Aquatic Center in Redwood City. They race all over the country, though primarily in California.

The team has just finished its fall racing season and will begin preparation for its spring racing season in January. Most notably, in October, the team sent 23 athletes to Boston to race in the Head of the Charles event. The men's team placed fourth out of 85 crews and the women's team placed 14th out of 85 crews, earning them a bid for next year's event.

No experience is necessary to join the team and prospective new members are welcome to come to practice at any time. More information can be found on the team's website: www.norcalcrew.org.

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