A FISA referee from Ukraine, Viktoriia Maydachevska, came up with the idea. To maintain the emergency operations of rowing, she asked the German Rowing Association (DRV) whether German rowing clubs could provide decommissioned boat equipment or ergometers for Ukraine. The DRV published this request, and eventually, a trailer with 11 boats was parked outside the gates of the Amicitia Rowing Club in Mannheim.
But material is not everything. Transport also needs to be financed. The International Fellowship of Rowing Rotarians (IfoRR) provided the missing amount from the donations from the Rotary Venø Donation Tour organised last year, the proceeds of which were also to be donated to rowing in Ukraine. However, we were a little sceptical about the timing. But the Ukrainians convinced us of the importance and significance of sport in a country affected by war. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)