Kayak For A Cause XII

Kayak For A Cause will be holding their annual fundraiser that brings kayakers and their favorite charities together to help raise money for causes that focus on ways to protect the environment and our community.

This year marks the 12th year that kayakers will join together to help raise money for local charities such as Save the Sound and Builders Beyond Borders.  Kayak For A Cause XII is setting a record having 34 charities on board. At the end of the event, the participating charities will receive 80% of the proceeds.

Director of Development for Save the Sound, Julie Parr emphasizes the importance of the long lasting partnership that Save the Sound has had with Kayak For A Cause over the years. “Save the Sound, which is the Connecticut Captain for International Coastal Clean Up Day prioritizes Kayak For A Cause because of their mutual common mission of using the water, being involved with the water, and making sure the water remains clean”. Parr adds that, Kayak For A Cause does an amazing job raising awareness of the importance of preserving the Long Island Sound to a large group of people. Last year Save the Sound received $15,000 from Kayak For A Cause.

Kayak For A Cause (KFAC) will start in Long Island where paddlers will paddle 13 miles across the Long Island sound to Shady Beach in Norwalk, CT.  This year there will be 3 route choices. 1. From Long Island to CT, 2. Boomerang – CT to CT, and  3. Round trip: CT to LI, back to CT. This annual event started in 2000 as a bet for 50 dollars between two friends and co-founders, Miles Spencer and Scott Carlin. Since the first official voyage across the sound, KFAC has raised over 2 million dollars and has brought 1,500 kayakers to the beach to raise money for charity. In 2006, KFAC set The Guinness World Record for most sea kayaks launched at one time, with 303 kayakers.

Program Manager for Builders Beyond Borders, Karen Meyer, is excited to be involved with KFAC this year. “It got started with some friends and became wildly successful, because of the focus it has on charities.” She adds that she is looking forward to the event because it brings together people who enjoy staying active and coming together for the community.