"Paddle On! Lake Wailes" Happens Saturday, Still Time to Join the Fun

It's not too late to gather your posse of friends to participate in a great event this Saturday to help persons with limited abilities, and have a good time doing it! The first-ever Paddle On! Lake Wailes will be held on May 6 and will offer participants several ways to help raise funds that will benefit the StirringWaters program.

"We hope so many paddlers participate that they create a kaleidoscope of color on the lake. Paddle On! Lake Wailes will unite people in an activity they enjoy and help create life-changing aquatic enjoyment for families living with disabilities in the future," says event organizer Cindy Turner. "Paddle On! is seeking participants, sponsors and volunteers. Please join us. It's going to be a fun day!"

Josh Curchy will perform to entertain participants from 11:00 to 1:00 on Saturday as folks gather to celebrate the day and well-earned rewards.

Individual paddlers will include kayakers, canoers and paddle-boarders who will launch at the Pram Fleet Building on North Lakeshore Boulevard. Individual Paddlers can simply paddle for a pre-registration fee of $45.

"Not everyone is a water person, so the event also will include fun for walkers, runners and cyclists," Turner said. Participants can simply walk, run or cycle, or also participate in Poker Fun! Events will run from 8:30 until 10:30 am on the Lake Wailes Trail, starting across from Kiwanis Park on North Lakeshore Boulevard. Poker cards can be drawn at five stops along the path. The winning hand drawn will receive $100.

Pre-registration for walkers, runners and cyclists is $15, and each Poker Fun! donation of $10 gives the participant a hand of five cards. Poker participants can make as many donations of $10 as they wish.

The event website includes an opportunity for those who want to donate to StirringWaters but are unable to participate in the event. The water event will begin at 9:00 am on the shores of Lake Wailes. Food trucks will be available during this fun for all event.

Buddy Paddle Teams in giant Voyageur canoes will surround a VIP paddler who is living with a disability. Each Voyageur can hold a 10-person fundraising crew as well as accommodate wheelchairs or adaptive seats. These teams will launch at the Lake Wailes Boat Ramp.

Companion buddy paddlers may be family members, church members or others who will raise as much money as possible to cover their fee as well as sponsor the VIP paddler, if that person is unable to do so. The minimum for a buddy paddler and a VIP paddler is $250 per paddler.

Participants will also have opportunities to participate in Poker Fun. To participate in the Poker Paddle! to five stops around the lake, each $10 donation gives the paddler a five-card hand. The paddler with the winning hand will receive $250.

Organizers are inviting churches, clubs, schools, groups and businesses to come alongside a person with disabilities to have fun and foster a more compassionate understanding of one another. Event options include Buddy Paddle Teams going across the lake and back, individual paddlers circumnavigating the lake, and walkers, runners and cyclists using the path along the lake.

"A paddle across Lake Wailes and back is approximately one mile or 500 strokes," said "StirringWaters founder Bill Redmon. Raising just $1 for each paddle stroke can change lives."

The event website includes an opportunity for those who want to donate to StirringWaters but are unable to participate in the event. The water event will begin at 9:00 am. on the shores of Lake Wailes. Buddy Paddle Teams will surround a VIP paddler who is living with a disability. Each Voyageur canoe can hold a 10-person fundraising crew as well as accommodate wheelchairs or adaptive seats. These teams will launch at the Lake Wailes Boat Ramp.

Companion buddy paddlers may be family members, church members or others who will raise as much money as possible to cover their fee as well as sponsor the VIP paddler, if that person is unable to do so. The minimum for a buddy paddler and a VIP paddler is $250 per paddler.

Participants will also have opportunities to participate in Poker Fun. To participate in the Poker Paddle! to five stops around the lake, each $10 donation gives the paddler a five-card hand. The paddler with the winning hand will receive $250.

Registered paddling participants will receive a waterproof dry bag compliments of Duke Energy.

Waters in the future!" Turner added.