Friends’ annual Kayak Challenge raises awareness of cancer and environment

Alcindor “AJ” McIntosh, Jr., FRIENDS Programs Assistant, cancer survivor and three-time Kayak Challenge participant. PHOTO CREDIT: Friends of the Environment.

Alcindor “AJ” McIntosh, Jr., FRIENDS Programs Assistant, cancer survivor and three-time Kayak Challenge participant. PHOTO CREDIT: Friends of the Environment.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Abaco Cancer Society and Friends of the Environment have been partnering for five years on a phenomenal event, the Abaco Kayak Challenge. This year marked the fifth annual Abaco Kayak Challenge and it was held at Pete’s Pub & Gallery in Little Harbour, Abaco Bahamas. This event was created to raise awareness about areas that were proposed to be national parks and to bring attention to the importance of healthy living while helping to support the two Abaco-based charities. The Kayak Challenge encourages people to take a closer look at the divine, one of a kind beauty surrounding them and its importance to the Abaco’s and The Bahamas at large in the lowest impact and eco-friendly way possible.

I personally have competed in three of the five Kayak Challenges and each time seems to be so much more beautiful than the time before. I remember my first event; it was like paddling through a little slice of heaven! Sea turtles scurrying below my kayak, shooting out of sight within seconds, while the gorgeous cushion sea stars sunbathed on the sandy bottom. Cruising farther along to the seagrass beds I ran into some of the biggest queen conchs I’ve seen in a really long time! Sea cucumbers were really hard to miss, seeing that there were so many you got tired of seeing them! But of course, what would this slice of heaven be without the oceans top predator? Sharks! I did come across two sharks this time, but they swam off just as fast as the turtles. The East Abaco Creeks has the highest density of blue holes in the Bahamas after Andros, which is why protecting and bringing awareness to them was a task we had to take on. Finally, this year, The Bahamas Government officially announced the East Abaco Creeks as a national park!

In addition to working with Friends of the Environment, this event has extra significance for me because I am a cancer survivor. It’s kind of gut wrenching to actually see how many people this dreaded disease has an effect on, both young and old. Cancer is literally no joke and isn’t an easy thing to deal with. Personally speaking from experience; it was the toughest blow that I’ve ever encountered. It came with no warning, no signs, and absolutely no mercy. I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins B Cell lymphoma in the year 2013 shortly after I completed a semester at The Island School. Hospitalized for weeks on end, losing a total of 65 pounds, having 14 surgeries and procedures in total performed on my already weakened body, losing my ability to walk and move the way I was used to and on some occasions, even breath the way I used to. Mouth sores from chemotherapy, indescribable pain and seemingly endless suffering became a part of my daily routine and at a point became normal to me. Medication becoming a part of everyday meals when I actually had an appetite to want to eat anything. I’m so grateful for the Abaco Cancer Society for everything they did to help me get through that tough time. It was thanks to them and their partnership with Friends of the Environment that I’m still here today. The Cancer Society paid for all my plane tickets and living accommodations while I was in the U.S. This money was all raised from donations and contributions made by anyone that was willing and able to help out and because of it, I’m cancer free today and was able to kayak in the 5th annual Kayak Challenge this year! I am glad to be able to use my experience to be able to bring awareness to cancer and to the environment.