Dedication and Send-Off Ceremony for Roni's Boat

April 15, 2015

Bristol , RI USA

Prepared by Avi Nevel

WITH THE GENEROSITY OF MISHA JOUKOWSKY, JEFF STURGES, AVI NEVEL, THE RESOLUTE TEAM AND MANY OTHER DONORS, IN OCTOBER 2014 AN ISRAELI ROWING TEAM WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE FOR THE FIRST TIME REPRESENTING ISRAEL AT

THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES

Israel team at the Head of the Charles Boston, November 2014

ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES EVENT BERNARD TARADASH MET RONI. HE WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH

HER, THAT AFTER HEARING HER STORY HE OFFERED TO DONATE A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TOWARD A

NEW BOAT. THE NEW BOAT WILL ALLOW RONI TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE,

AND WILL HELP HER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF PARTICIPATION IN THE JUNIOR OLYMPICS 2015 IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

REPRESENTING ISRAEL

How the idea started

Roni's Story

Roni Vorvoreanu is a 17 year old senior high school student from Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel who was part of the Israeli team. She did very well in the Head of the Charles race, placing 8th out of 33. She probably would have been 2nd or 3rd but for the fact that one of rowers starting ahead of her did not yield as prescribed in the rules.  When Roni tried to pass her it resulted in a collision and significant lost time. Nevertheless, she was already recognized by top rowing coaches who approached her to talk about their school rowing programs. Roni is at the top of her class and is very dedicated to the sport. She takes her bicycle every day to the train, then heads to the bus to go one and a half hours to each training. She is training to compete for the 2015 Rio de Janeiro Junior Championships and Tokyo 2020. We started a campaign to buy the Resolute Racing Shell similar to the one she used at the Head of the Charles race and ship it to Israel for her to train with. Her present boat is old and forty pounds heavier than what she needs. Giving her a new Resolute boat will help her in training, and to qualify in the Junior Championships in Rio and Tokyo.

RESOLUTE LightWeight Single (LW1X) To keep ahead of the crowd, we took the best of the original Resolute 1x design and improved everything from balance and ergonomics to materials and manufacturing. The result: A faster and more durable boat. Available in heavyweight and lightweight models, every Z1x is delivered fully fitted with seat, stretcher and rigger. Custom painting, rigging, and accessories are also available. Dimensions: Length 25 ft 4 in. Height 8 in. Beam 1424 in. Rower Weight 130-180 lbs. Concept-2 Skinny Shaft Medium stiffness Sculls

The Boat

1918 - 2005

THE BOAT IS NAMED IN MEMORY OF

MIRIAM BEITNER NEVEL HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR FROM POLAND WHO

ESCAPED DURING THE MARCH OF DEATH AND IMMIGRATED TO ISRAEL

IN MEMORY OF MARTHA AND

WAITSTILL SHARP (GRANDPARENTS OF MISHA JOUKOWSKY) WHO RISKED

THEIR LIVES TO SAVE JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST AND WERE

RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL AND YAD VASHEM AS RIGHTEOUS AMONG NATIONS

1905 -1999 1902 - 1984

IT IS SYMBOLIC THAT RONI WILL ROW THIS BOAT AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE

THE MEMORY OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND WHAT THEY HAD TO ENDURE. WHEN THE PAIN IS INTENSE

AND YOU, RONI, ARE TRYING TO REACH THE FINISH LINE, I HOPE THAT MY

MOTHER'S SPIRIT, MENTAL AND MORAL STRENGTH WILL GIVE YOU THAT EXTRA LIFT. MY MOTHER'S NAME, BLESS HER

SOUL, IS MIRIAM BEITNER NEVEL.

AVI NEVEL

Roni becomes part of Resolute nation

Head of the Charles Boston 2014

Photos from visits to Head of the Charles

Roni with the Israeli kids at the Head of the Charles

Roni continues to excel during competitions in Israel, First place becomes familiar to her

Roni continues to excel during competitions in Israel, First place becomes familiar to her