BY ANDREW KETCHUM, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR Lake Wylie, SC - Alzheimer’s disease, the seventh leading cause of death globally and the most common cause of dementia, afflicts more than 6 million Americans, and 1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Alzheimer’s not only causes memory loss; it robs one’s ability to communicate and often changes the very personality of a loved one. With these statistics and significant impact, it is no wonder that almost every family has a story to share about this heartbreaking disease. In August of 2022, a Lake Wylie Rotarian shared his Alzheimer’s story with fellow Rotarians at Papa Doc’s. He shared his remembrance of his grandfather, a very proud man who was impacted by Alzheimer’s; the disease took away his grandfather’s independence, and he was moved to ask if the Rotary Club of Lake Wylie could somehow help him honor him and help those who have been diagnosed with the disease. The Rotarians around the table could relate. Unfortunately, too many of the folks had family stories of their own or had a friend who was impacted. But how could they help? A discussion ensued about what could be done, and a paddling event was suggested. We have a beautiful lake in our community, so let’s take advantage of it. The Rotary Club of Lake Wylie already supported Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART), an organization started by a fellow South Carolina Rotarian that provides seed money for cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research. Let’s see if these two items can be leveraged to do something good for our community. The club pulled together to work through the many parts that make up a paddling event. Camp Thunderbird was our venue, and on April 15, 2023, the Inaugural Paddle for the Cure – the Race to Beat Alzheimer’s was held. It was a beautiful day with 36 paddlers in four divisions (sit-in kayaks, sit-on kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and youth) paddled a 5-kilometer course that took them from Camp Thunderbird to the River Hills Marina and back for the adults and a shorter 2-kilometer course for the youth. In addition to the paddling, food, music, and a huge Silent Auction was enjoyed by all that participated that day. Many thanks go out to our volunteers and participants. Special thanks to our Gold Sponsor - Kaia and Cayden; Silver Sponsors – AK Media and Express Sunrooms; Bronze Sponsors – Tailrace Marina, Buckeye Fire Equipment, and an anonymous sponsor. Food was sponsored by Patco Foods, Inc. Water safety support was provided by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and America’s Boating Club of the Catawba. A huge shoutout to everyone who provided an item for the Silent Auction. Most of all, Thank You to the Lake Wylie Community. Your participation in this event made it a day to remember. Your generosity culminated in the presentation of a check for over $18,000 to CART. Please help us make the 2nd Annual - Paddle for the Cure even more successful by joining us from 9am to 3pm on April 20, 2024, at Camp Thunderbird. Website: April 20, 2024 Camp Thunderbird (paddleforthecurelw.com) Facebook: Paddle For The Cure Lake Wylie | Facebook For More Information: (570) 204-0291 Photos of last year's Paddle for the Cure event.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |