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Man rowing boat across Lake Michigan for cancer research

Posted at 10:58 PM, Oct 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-01 23:04:18-04

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (AP) — The leader of an organization that raises money for childhood cancer research plans to row a boat across Lake Michigan for the cause this weekend.

Jacob Beckley says he’ll set out Sunday on the 65-mile journey from St. Joseph to Chicago, which he hopes to complete in one very long day.

Beckley’s group is called Row for a Cure. Its primary focus is a form of pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma.

The Herald-Palladium  reports that Beckley built the vessel that he’ll row across the lake. It is embossed with the names of about 100 children who have cancer or have died from it.

Beckley announced his voyage last week with Tony and Katie Mandarino of St. Joseph, whose 5-year-old son died of neuroblastoma in 2013.