Stand Up Paddleboarding on a Saturday at the serene yet buzzing entertainment destination, Yas Marina? We could not picture a cooler end to the week.
But throw in a paddle challenge for charity and there’s bound to be nothing more fulfilling you’ll do this weekend.
The Abu Dhabi SUP community are throwing an open-to-all paddle-a-thon to raise funds for now world-famous Raelyn Beckler, a four-year-old girl battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia in America.
Locally-based SUPer Jen Scully was inspired by an event in the US put on by ultra distance SUP racer Shane Perrin – on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20), he urged the greater SUP community to head out for a paddle and pledge a dollar to Raelyn for every mile paddled – and decided she would throw her own charity event.
She says: “We want to help Raelyn and her family continue to fight. This paddle challenge is open to everyone of all levels and we hope to see families get involved and paddle together.”
The challenge consists of a fourhour continuous paddle on Yas, the lap distances of which will be shared amongst teams. Event sponsors Live Love SUP will contribute an additional donation amounting to the number of laps that were completed, so for example if a total of 600 laps (at 400 metres each) were completed, they will donate Dh600 to Raeyln’s fundraiser.
“There will be some prizes throughout the paddle for ‘special fun laps’ we create,” adds Scully.
Breakfast will also be provided with the whole gang then heading off to Stars ‘n’ Bars afterwards for lunch and to celebrate the day’s success.
Boards should be made available upon request if you do not have one.
If you would like to donate directly to Raelyn’s fundraiser page, you can do so at www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/paddle-for-her-battle/74742.
