In 2021, Paddle for Heroes is dedicating to helping people stay healthy and active, and to continue to achieve our mission of helping veterans.
Paddle for Heroes is hosting several events in 2021 that will help keep our community healthy and our rivers clean, while providing services for our veterans. Join us as we embark on a new year with new adventures.
Paddle for Heroes is a nonprofit organization focused on helping veterans, first responders and their families get out on the water. Each year, the group participates in several river clean-ups on the Mohican River, the Kokosing River and, most recently, the White River in Michigan. This is a great way to get people out on the water and improve the environment. In 2019, Paddle for Heroes raised $35,000 to install an ADA-accessible kayak launch at Ariel-Foundation Park.
Join us for the entire year of 2021 with our 2,021 Miles for 2021 Challenge. This unique challenge is done completely on your time throughout the entire year. The goal is to achieve 2,021 miles of distance. Whether you are walking, running, swimming, biking, kayaking, hiking or any activities that keep you active, you can count those miles toward your 2021 Challenge. Participants will be entered in for drawings throughout the year and will receive a very cool custom Paddle for Heroes medal at the end of the year.
Our second event of the year is our third annual 5k and Adventure Race at Ariel-Foundation Park on May 22, 2021. This event consists of two races: our 5k Run/Walk and our Adventure Race. Participants can join in person for either event. The Adventure Race consists of a 5k run as well as a 1.5k paddle board race. This year we are throwing in some additional obstacles to make it even more fun and challenging. Registration will be open soon!
For the fifth year in a row, Paddle for Heroes will be paddling over 160 miles from Mount Vernon to Marietta to help raise awareness of the therapeutic healing of paddling for our veterans. This year, the trip is dedicated to Army Staff Sergeant Shamus O. Goare of Danville. Staff Sgt. Goare was on a special operations mission on June 28, 2005, to rescue four Navy SEALs missing in mountains near the Pakistani border when his MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down. The paddle will take place from May 29 through June 3, 2021.
There are more events to come, and we are excited to get more veterans and first responders out on the water! We hope that you can join us for one of these exciting events. Please follow our Facebook page or our website at www.paddleforheroesmidwest.org to see our upcoming events and news. If you aren’t able to attend our events, consider donating to a great cause. We hope to see you in 2021!
