Join Mike's 2nd annual Common Thread Row

Join Mike for his 20-minute Drive live on Saturday, November 5 at 11:30 AM EDT. Can’t join us live?Mike’s “Our Common Thread” row will be available on-demand on Sunday, November 13th. 

Rowing for awareness: Our Common Thread

In January 2020, Hydrow Athlete Mike Dostal shared a very personal story with the Hydrow community: In 2018, his wife, Meg, an avid runner herself and mother of two, had been diagnosed with Oligodendroglioma, a rare form of brain cancer. 

Immediately, the family sprang into action, finding treatment for Meg at Massachusetts General Hospital. Meg endured a difficult, 11-hour surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Thankfully, the surgery was successful—and Meg’s recovery left the family feeling inspired to value every day and appreciate everyone’s vulnerabilities. 

As a result, they founded Our Common Thread, an online community where people share their stories and find inspiration in the stories of others.

Speaking about last year’s Drive, Mike says, “It was a huge surprise at the depth of support that the community brought to Our Common Thread and fundraising for Mass General. We shared the story publicly, which opened the door for members to reach out to [us]. They share their stories with the Hydrow Training Camp group, and with us too. In a weird way, it provided some comfort knowing that you’re not alone.”

And speaking of the real-life impact of the community support, Mike added, “The fundraising that we did last year contributed to the success and continuation of a clinical trial for Oligodendroglioma that otherwise would have been shut down due to Covid-19. The Hydrow community made an impact on brain cancer research. This is just one step of the many in curing brain cancer around the world.”

Want to get involved?

Donate to Our Common Thread to support funding at Massachusetts General Hospital for rare brain cancer research. And for more background on the Dostal’s experiences, read Mike’s story.