We told you recently about Long Beach State’s crew team winning at WIRA’s regional championship; they’re too strapped for cash to make nationals, and they’re asking for help.

Read this letter from Beach Crew, and do what you can:

On May 2nd the Long Beach State Crew Team competed in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s Regional Championships. For the first time in four years Long Beach competed in the Lightweight Eight race, beating out UC San Diego and Washington State to take 3rd behind Stanford and Willamette Universities. 

It was Long Beach State’s Lightweight Four who were the real success of the regatta; they took 1st place in grand finals, beating out Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Cal Berkley, Willamette and Seattle University. Long Beach has seen success with the Lightweight Four in the past, taking 3rd place at Regional and National Championships last year. These past accomplishments, however, are nothing to match the potential of this year’s team. They won their grand final by over six seconds, distancing themselves from the rest of competition by a boat length and a half. 

Hopefully their journey is not over yet. 

The American Collegiate Rowing Association is holding National Championships in Oklahoma City on May 22nd and 23rd. The Lightweight Four hopes to reclaim their third place title at nationals and have now set their sights on the gold. Unfortunately, due to the Universities half million dollar budget cuts and the current economic recession the team has found itself at the end of the season without the means to fund the necessary travel expenses. It will cost approximately $3,400 to send all four rowers and their coxswain to Oklahoma for Nationals and the athletes are ready to fundraise every penny. 

If you are interested in helping these girls discover just how far their hard work can take them then please make a donation. You can donate online here.  In the additional comments, list Beach Crew.  Your donation will be sent quickly to the team.    

Help send the Long Beach Lightweights to Nationals! Every donation is greatly appreciated and thank you again for your continued support of the Long Beach State Crew Team. 

Again, help this team out by clicking here and writing Beach Crew in “additional comments”!