The 2nd Annual Kayak For A Cure Victoria plied the tranquil waters of Saanich Inlet on Sunday August 9th raising over $10,000.00 for the Canadian Cancer Society!
This year’s donations were earmarked for the CCS family assistance program helping cancer patients and their families in need of support from the Cancer Society.

The 25 paddlers and their escort boat crews gathered at Verdier Park – Brentwood Bay where they heard KFAC founder Mark Starkey speak of his heart warming inspiration for the KFAC movement; a local Vancouver event with humble beginnings that has now blossomed into an international multi-city multi-event success story!

The paddle started with a spectacular display of moon jellies in Brentwood Bay that wowed even the most experienced paddlers in the group!

The KFAC flotilla, shadowed by it’s two escort safety boats, made its way to McKenzie Bight for a short break before continuing on to Elbow Point and reassembling for a slightly less than precise side-by-side crossing to our lunch-stop at Spectacle Creek. A number of paddlers spent their lunch break marveling at the variety of marine organisms living in the shallows just feet from the shoreline; of particular interest were a number of white masses identified by volunteer guide Mike Jackson as opalescent squid eggs!

After lunch we followed the shoreline to McCurdy Point and crossed the inlet to the second `big round rock` just north of McKenzie Bight. From there, volunteer guides Mike Barnes, Mike Jackson, Richard Golob and Don Lowther took turns leading the group back to Brentwood Bay and Verdier Park for a KFAC wrap-up BBQ with food donated by Thrifty Foods grilled on the Jenner Chev Olds “Grillverado“ BBQ truck.
The weather was ideal for the days paddle. A light drizzle in the early morning gave way to just enough cloud cover to keep the paddlers comfortable, but when we made our return to Brentwood Bay and the BBQ the clouds parted and the sun took over from there; a perfect finish to a perfect day on the water!
Special Thanks!
Special thanks to FCV Technologies for the Kayak for a Cure website and much much more; Jack FM 103.1 for on-air promotions and the Jack-mobile; Thrifty Foods for the great eats; Jenner Chev Olds for the Grillverado BBQ; Coca-cola for our after paddle beverages; Peninsula Co-op for fueling the escort boats; awesome coffee in the morning from Level Ground Trading; discounted rental kayaks for those in need from Pacifica Paddlesports and the Brentwood Bay Lodge Marina; Ocean River Sports and SISKA for promoting KFAC through their websites and emails to members; loaner kayaks from Mike Jackson, Richard Golob, Joe Hoffman, Caite Meagher and Don Lowther; escort boats skippered by Roger Patterson and Gerald Ford and especially to our volunteer guides Don Lowther, Mike Barnes, Mike Jackson and Richard Golob – without whose generous donation of time and skill this event could not take place.

Kayak for a Cure will be featuring our participants from each of our city events this year, beginning with one of our flagship events here in Canada taking place on Vancouver Island.

Leanne not only got listed on the fundraising leaderboard for Kayak for a Cure Victoria this week, but also shared some great inspiration on her personal fundraising page, below:

“This year I am paddling in memory of my Dad, John Letson. He died last year of cancer.” shared Leanne. “Nearly 60 years ago when Dad was a university student and champion gymnast he’d kayak from the family home on Beach Avenue in the West End of Vancouver out to UBC.”

“Dad loved the water. He spent his entire life either on it or very near it.”

We’re so humbled to have you with us this year, Leanne! See you on the water at Kayak for a Cure Victoria!