HAMILTON – The Colgate women's rowing team is once again competing in the annual ERG challenge and is set to host its challenge event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Reid Athletics Center lobby. 
 
The 100-kilometer rowing competition raises funds to fight childhood brain cancer and takes place this week.

Colgate sees great success each year raising funds for the event. Click here for more information on how to support the women's rowing program in its efforts to raise awareness for the event. 
 
The Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation was created in June 2013 in memory of Robert 'Connor' Dawes who at 18 years of age, lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer. The Foundation's mission is to battle pediatric brain cancer, which kills more children than any other disease, "through research, care and development projects – funding the science to end pediatric brain cancer and support patients in the meantime,'' said Liz Dawes, Connor's mom and RCD founder and CEO.
 
Connor's ERG Challenge is a literal show of strength against childhood brain cancer that is presented by the RCD Foundation and hosted by each participating university's rowing team. The teams compete individually and submit their times to the RCD Foundation; once times from all teams have been tabulated, the victors are named and the Connor Cup is awarded. "This year's event is also supported by two fantastic major sponsors – the Northwestern Mutual Foundation and Jacobus Energy," Dawes said.
 
Following an impressive high school rowing career in Australia, Connor was looking forward to rowing in college and his parents' alma mater was one of his top choices. Liz Dawes '85 and her husband Scott Dawes '84, are UW-Madison alumni. UW–Madison rowers have participated since the event's inception.  "Connor's ERG Challenge serves as a way to honor Connor's passion for rowing while raising needed funds for brain cancer research at a university he held dear," Dawes said.
 
More information on the event, the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation and sponsorship and donor opportunities can be found at connorserg.com.
 
About the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation (RCD)
Founded in June 2013 in Melbourne, Australia, the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation was created in memory of Robert Connor Dawes, who lost a 16-month battle with brain cancer at age 18. The RCD Foundation operates in Australia and the U.S., where brain cancer is the most fatal of all childhood cancers. The foundation funds research to end brain cancer as well as for the care and support of patients battling the disease. Learn more at rcdfoundation.org.