The Abaco Cancer Society and Friends of the Environment are collaborating to present Abaco’s third annual Kayak Challenge on Saturday, November 9th at Pete’s Pub & Gallery in Little Harbour, Abaco.
The event was created to raise awareness and support for these two Abaco charities by encouraging people to get out and enjoy Abaco’s beautiful outdoors in a low-impact eco-friendly way. Many of the paddlers are either cancer survivors or paddling in support of someone who has battled or is battling the disease. The courses for the Kayak Challenge are located within the proposed East Abaco Creeks National Park, a network of mangrove wetlands that provide valuable nursery habitat to a diversity of marine species as well as roosting and nesting habitat for birds. Friends of the Environment created the national park proposal in partnership with the Bahamas National Trust and it is currently being considered by Government. The proposal seeks to conserve these habitats while still allowing for fishing and other cultural activities to continue. Areas such as this are very important to the marine environment of The Bahamas and our way of life. If approved, this proposed park would ensure continued access to Abaco’s marine resources and some of the most beautiful wild places on the island.
Any craft you can paddle will be welcome, including kayaks, paddle boards and canoes – just no engines. There will be three courses to choose from: 5 miles, 8 miles, or 13 miles; all will take paddlers into and through the scenic tidal creeks of the Bight of Old Robinson, which is included in the proposed East Abaco Creeks National Park. Support boats will be on hand to assist paddlers, make sure they stay on course and provide water and snacks. Paddlers will be welcomed back with a beach party featuring music, pig roast and raffle of a new Hobie Lanai Kayak donated by Lightbourne Marine in Nassau. Last year we had more than 80 paddlers winding through the creeks and a large group waiting at Pete’s Pub to welcome the paddlers home.
Paddlers can either pay a $25 registration fee and agree to raise $100 in sponsorship by the day of the event, or pay a $100 registration fee. FRIENDS and the Abaco Cancer Society are also seeking business sponsors to support the event who will be featured on the event T-shirts. If you are interested, please contact Lindsey@friendsoftheenvironment.org.
More information about the event, as well as registration forms, are available on Friends of the Environment’s website: www.FriendsoftheEnvironment.org or on Facebook under the event “3rd Annual Kayak Challenge”.
We hope to see you there!
To learn more about Friends of the Environment, visit www.friendsoftheenvironment.org, email info@friendsoftheenvironment.org or call (242) 367-2721.