The rain came down but spirits soared as this year's 'Up the Creek Without a PADDLE' fundraiser, hosted by the Rotaract Club of North Bay-Nipissing, raised $20,000 for the PADDLE program.
It smashed last year's record-setting amount by roughly $6,000. PADDLE is an acronym for 'Providing Adults with Developmental Disabilities Lifelong Experiences'
The President of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Rotaract Service Club members and community dignitaries climbed on board two dragon boats in the rain Friday, to raise money for the program.
In-coming Rotaract President Valerie Edmunds says the fundraising concept is simple.
"Some people have done some of their fundraising prior to going out into the canoe. Once taken out onto Tout Lake, most will work their cell phones, calling friends to raise money to 'buy a paddle' to get back to shore," explained Edmunds.
This is the ninth year the Rotaract Club of North Bay-Nipissing has hosted the 'Up the Creek Without a Paddle' event.
Lori Venasse, whose son Shawn is enrolled in the program, is one of PADDLE's founding members. She gave a shout out to people in the construction industry who helped her other two sons, Steven and Adam, of Venasse Building Group, with their own fundraising efforts.
"The construction community in North Bay has raised over $13,000 for this event this year, so we're pretty excited about that. Everybody has been so happy to provide a donation," said Vanasse.
PADDLE provides supervised activities for adults with learning disabilities, from the age of 21 right on up to senior citizens. Activities are planned in the community from Monday to Friday. PADDLE also has three classrooms at Chippewa Secondary School, where they can learn academic and life skills. Venasse says what is most important is that participants have an opportunity to maintain friendships and 'feel like they belong.'
Diane Degagne has been a member of PADDLE for a number of years. She enjoys bowling and going swimming at the YMCA with her friends.
Out-going Rotaract President, Alex Rogerson pointed out that over the past eight years the service club has raised a total of $90,000 for PADDLE. Surpassing the $100,000 mark this year, is 'amazing.'
"This was the first event we ever did as a club. It's one of the projects we like to do, to give back to the community throughout the year. "
The Rotaract Club is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 40.
