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!

Our new website reflects our mission to ’share your story’ through Kayak for a Cure events - both on and offline. In addition to my own personal inspiration coming from cancer-stricken woman with one-leg and a huge heart in an economically-depressed steel-town in Ohio, I’ve also been beyond fortunate to have had coaches, family and friends that would pepper me with ‘gems’ of inspiration throughout my life. In the 10th grade, my economics teacher had us watch Jimmy V’s 1993 ESPY speech.

I’d love to walk-through the points that Coach Valvano speaks to, but I trust, in addition to really touching you as you watch it, that this video speaks for itself on an uplifting scale.

Kayak for a Cure certainly isn’t a competitive event or any relation to basketball, but it was on the court and in the classroom that I was introduced to men like this. For that, I’m forever grateful and am so excited to share this ‘gem’ with you.

Hope Floats,
Mark

Kayak for a Cure Comedy Night IV will be the funniest and biggest night to date.

Our headliner is one of Canada’s top touring stand up comedians Erica Sigurdson. http://ericasigurdson.com/ You can also see Erica on The List on CityTV here in Vancouver. Your cheeks and tummies will be sore by the end of the night.

Greg Kettner Performs at Kayak for a Cure Comedy Night

Other top performing comics on the bill include Jane Stanton, Darcy Michael, Ivan Decker, Kwasi Thomas and Greg Kettner.

Tickets are $20 with proceeds going to fight cancer. There will also be a 50/50 raffel and the Sin Bin is donating $1 for every tasty Granville Island Beer that is sold.

Bring your friends and join us as we have a great night of comedy, food and drinks while raising money to fight cancer.

65 tickets available - Cost is $15

The annual Mountain Equipment Co-op Paddlefest (Vancouver, BC) showcased over 400 kayakers who got on the water to demo new boats, improve their skills and use new paddling products.  In addition, the event featured presentation and promotional booths from paddling manufacturers and distributors.

MEC also held the 2nd annual charity BBQ at the event in partnership with Kayak for a Cure and M&M Meats.  Our team had a fantastic time working with Greg and team over at M&M while getting burgers, hotdogs and water in the hands of the hungry paddlers attending the MEC event.  The Kayak for a Cure volunteer team plans to use the proceeds raised at the event to fund the annual Vancouver charity paddle, Kayak for a Cure IV on August 30th, 2009.

To learn more or register to participate, visit www.kayakforacure.org or call +1 (604) 561-3494.

Mountain Equipment Co-op’s first annual Sweet Spots Outdoor Video Contest. Here is a collection of their favourite clips from the many hours of 2008

Find boats, clothing and gear at www.mec.ca.  Everything for quiet coves or raging rivers.

During our annual staff meetup here in Vancouver, BC, we launched one of many 2009 Kayak for a Cure™ charity promotional vids which you’ll start to see hitting the blogosphere/web/twitter/facebook over the next few months leading up to 2009 events.

If you’re saying to yourself, ‘this Kayak for a Cure™ stuff looks cool, but what’s an event actually feel like?  How cool are these people and will I have an absolute blast while giving back to my community and cancer society?’ then you need to check out this video!

We’d love to hear from you! Leave your feedback, register for the event nearest you, or inspire someone to join you in your fundraising initiatives!  No matter how involved you get with Kayak for a Cure™, the experience will be EPIC!