Man rows boat across Lake Michigan for cancer research funding

(Tom Gill/Flickr)

The leader of an organization that raises money for childhood cancer research has rowed a boat across Lake Michigan for the cause.

The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph and WSJM-AM report Jacob Beckley arrived Tuesday in Chicago following a roughly 65-mile journey from St. Joseph that took about 20 hours. He'd planned to start the trip Sunday, but was delayed a day by weather.

The primary focus of Beckley's group Row for a Cure is neuroblastoma, a form of pediatric cancer.

Beckley built the vessel that he rowed. 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.