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Rowing for Recovery: WeCanRow DC

This film shares the story of three women who are cancer survivors. This is their journey to recovery from the day they got their diagnoses, to when they became founders of the WeCanRow chapter in Washington, D.C.

  • Damon Bowe
    Director
  • Juana Capelluto
    Director
  • Damon Bowe
    Producer
  • Nancy Kellner
    Key Cast
  • Doris Parker
    Key Cast
  • Beverly Buffkin
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Drama, Sport
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 27, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    3,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1920 x 1080
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Damon Bowe, Juana Capelluto

Washington, DC based documentary filmmaker and photographer Damon Bowe creates films to profile and empower his community. Born in Covington, LA, he began making films as a way to bring awareness to community service. Damon has a B.S. in biochemistry from Bates College and completed his senior thesis in cancer treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and studied under Nobel Laureate Andrew Schally. He has a PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the University of Alabama Birmingham, and a JD from Louisiana State University. He lives in the Capitol Riverfront South neighborhood of Washington, DC with his wife Claire and his twin daughters Rosalyn and Francesca.

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Director Statement

In 2016 I initiated a project to profile about thirty women in the Washington, DC area to empower women in our community. People come to DC to make a mark on society and their careers, and getting to know these people can be challenging because they are so dedicated to their work and hobbies.

Rowing is a major hobby for DC area residents for over a century. They look magical, gliding along the sparkling water with monuments gleaming in the background. I wanted to know more about their stories, what drives them, and what makes them special. I quickly found a group called WeCanRow DC, dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors.

In addition to the general interest in profiling a group of breast cancer survivors who row, the story is also a personal one. My wife is a breast cancer survivor in year 3 of her recovery. I am an expert in breast cancer research as well, having dedicated over 20 years of my life to studying the disease and working on new cures. At the time of my wife's diagnosis, we were devastated. Suffering from cancer is incredibly isolating and lonely. It was difficult to discuss it with anyone, and yet we discussed it constantly. We were facing a terrible disease that possibly ends in death, and dealing with it through an incompetent healthcare system and seemingly uncaring health professionals.

The story isn't just a film or documentary, it's a personal one on so many levels. We were compelled to explore the story.

I am humbled and honored to have the trust of Nancy, Beverly and Doris. They trusted us with an intensely personal story. This is a snapshot of the journey of recovery, of living life, and a feeling of community.