COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Law enforcement from across the Brazos Valley will row side-by-side Saturday in the inaugural Battle of The Badges competition to benefit the nonprofit Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Row House College Station is one of many gymnasiums in Brazos Valley. On Saturday, this training studio will host dozens of law enforcement who will sweat for the community in the first badge battle.
“This event really grew out of a conversation with our community development committee about how we, the responders who work so hard for us every day for us on our sexual assault cases as well as our community, be together. As Executive Director of SARC and owner of Row House, it was natural to bring these two people together,” said Lindsey LeBlanc, Executive Director of SARC.
As many will be raising funds and helping a cause, General Manager Michelle Lovingshimer breaks down what Saturday will look like for those who come out and watch.
“We try to stay authentic in the sport of rowing, so we get the hall with 25 rowers here and move the hall back and forth in the swing, that’s what we call it,” the manager said. General of Row House College Station. “When you look up and the whole room is moving in sync, it’s pretty amazing.”
With nearly $2,000 raised, Lovingshimer said Saturday’s session was aimed at helping SARC.
“This event is going to be a little different because they’re rowing a 5K and we’re not necessarily rowing a swing for that – as a team they tried to raise the most money and then they’ll try to finish the fastest tomorrow “, said Lovingshimer.
According to SARC, 1 in 3 women have been sexually assaulted and 1 in 6 men have been sexually assaulted.
LeBlanc said events like this help raise awareness for a serious cause.
“People we know and love are affected by this whether they come to SARC or not, whether they know us or not, so this is a great way for our community to stand up and say hey, we support – we believe you, we hear you, we see you,” LeBlanc said.
