Support Strokes 25 September 2010

Greetings Norcal Kayak Anglers:

September 25th is California Canoe & Kayak’s 10th Annual Support Strokes benefit paddle to fight breast cancer and support women (and men, rare but it does occur) fighting the disease. (This 10th annual paddle equates to the 9th overall paddle; the economy zapped last year.) Paddlers have raised $230,422 over the 8 years. This year we are currently at $9,000+ with 77 paddlers registered. Full information about this year’s event can be found on our homepage at www.calkayak.com  You are invited to come and support the cause. Those who have participated in past Support Strokes have told me it is one of the most moving paddling experiences they have had. 

There are 3 ways you can participate:

1) Volunteer. We have many 1st time paddlers this year. We need safety boaters and dock launch help. If you are willing to volunteer please contact Kenny Howell at [email protected] and cc me at [email protected] Volunteers get lunch, T-shirt and a raffle ticket.

2) Register and paddle in honor/memory of friends and loved ones. Here is the link: www.calkayak.com/supportstrokes/index.cfm?go=signup Everyone who signs up receives an event T-shirt, lunch and a raffle ticket. If you sign up and cannot make it to Oakland I encourage you to paddle “remotely”. You will miss a great lunch provided by Scott’s but you will still get an event T-shirt and your name entered in the raffle. The camaraderie here is wonderful but you can still support the cause by yourself or with a group of friends remotely. We will have a moment of silence at 2 pm.

3) Pledge on-line. Here is the link www.calkayak.com/supportstrokes/index.cfm?go=contribute It’s easy, just do it! 100% of pledges go to the groups listed – ZERO overhead is deducted.

The Raffles: There are two raffles to support Support Strokes. 1) For registered participants and volunteers. You need not be present to win. Key prizes include: Thule Hullavator ($550), Werner carbon paddle ($340); Astral Abba PFD ($125), Snapdragon sprayskirts ($147/$100) and many more. These companies support our collective fight against cancer. Register or volunteer and you have a great chance to win. 2) For everyone. Grand Prize: Hobie Mirage Drive i12S Inflatable Kayak with Kotatat MsFit PFD and CCK kayak lesson – Value $2000; 1st Prize: one night at the Joie de Vivre Waterfront Hotel at Jack London Square and $100 voucher to Miss Pearl’s Jam House Restaurant; 2nd Prize - $200 gift certificate to BOCANOVA Restaurant in Jack London Square. Tickets are $20 each. 200 tickets only will be sold.

Brief history: Support Strokes began when the local paddling community wanted to help and support fellow paddler Lore Hogan. Lore lives on in our hearts and this event gives us a day to remember and celebrate not only her life but many others who are fighting cancer or lost their battle.

Coastal Cleanup is the same day. If you want you can combine Support Strokes with Coastal Clean-up by cleaning while you paddle. We get a significant amount of discarded surface debris in the Estuary and elsewhere which can be picked up and stored under your deck bungee thus allowing you to participate in two events simultaneously! Just a thought…. Cheers - Keith