A Passion Passed Down

By Lexi Cherven

I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked, “When are you going to do the Marathon?”. Although racing has crossed my mind; my intention to race has never been more than a distant thought. To me there is so much more to the AuSable River Canoe Marathon than crossing the finish line; it’s an opportunity to spend valuable quality time with my dad, John Cherven.

My dad was introduced to the Marathon back in 1983 when he was looking for ways to get more involved in the community. He sparked up a conversation with Steve Southard, who recommended he come to a Marathon committee meeting. Little did he know how life changing that first meeting would be.

Over the past 39 years, my dad has been involved in nearly every aspect of the race. As an accountant, he immediately fell into the role of treasurer; however, his involvement grew year after year. Some of his most well-known contributions are aiding in the establishment of the Time Trials, Special Olympics Canoe Challenge, and more recently, the Scholarship Fund. By far one of his most favorite roles on the committee was managing paddler registration and entries, which involved making initial contact with all first-time paddlers to ensure they were fully prepared for what was ahead of them. Being an initial point of contact allowed him to develop a special bond with the rookie and out of state paddlers.

His passion for the Marathon has gone far beyond committee responsibilities. He has opened his home to over 25 paddlers giving them a place to stay during Race Week or during the off-season for training. His cabin just upstream of McMasters Bridge has not only been a popular place for committee members and friends to view the race, but also a feeding spot to many teams who want to avoid the busy scene at the bridge.

I experienced my first AuSable River Canoe Marathon in 1995 at the age of 11 months old. Growing up around the Marathon with a parent as involved as my dad was, you either quickly learn to love it or hate it. I was fortunate enough to love every minute of it. The Marathon became the highlight of my summer. As I got older, I became more involved in helping my dad with each of his responsibilities; however, the Special Olympics Canoe Challenge has always been one of my favorites. There is nothing like seeing the joy in the Special Olympians’ face as they hop in the canoe with a Marathon paddler. I would like to think this event played a large role in my decision to become a Neurologic Physical Therapist.

In the recent years, my dad has stepped away from most of his formal roles on the committee to enjoy the race as a spectator and support me in my position as organizer and co-emcee of the Opening Program. Despite stepping back, he continues to be a mentor and point of contact for all things Marathon-related.

Being involved in the Marathon alongside my dad has taught me so many life lessons, but more importantly it’s been something that I will cherish forever. Dad, thank you for your commitment to making the AuSable River Canoe Marathon what it is today.

Lexi Cherven in 1996

John and Lexi Cherven at the finish line in Oscoda in 2014