RUMSON – The Shore Paddle with a Purpose, a paddleboard and kayak ride along the Navesink River, was held July 15 to benefit Mercy Center’s Sisters Academy in Asbury Park.
More than 60 paddlers took part in the 5-mile ride that started and finished in Victory Park. A special after-party was held at Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright. State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr., R-Monmouth, was on hand to launch the event with opening remarks and well wishes.
The proceeds from the event will be used to support Mercy Center’s Sisters Academy. Sisters Academy is a middle school for girls from economically challenged families in Asbury Park. Its goal is to keep girls in school through college graduation by providing them with an excellent academic program and the supportive environment necessary for their success.
During Paddle with a Purpose stand up and prone paddlers joined kayak riders along the Navesink while an array of activities for water sport fans and land lovers alike took place shore side at Victory Park. The event partners from Surfers Environmental Alliance (SEA) joined the festivities as a warm-up to their own paddle event on Aug. 17 around the island of Manhattan.
A full day of fun in the sun included special displays from sponsors Women Selling Cars To Women at Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall, A.J. Perri, Dos Equis, Whole Foods, Hatteras Press & Communications, Aerial North Signs, WRAT Radio, John E. Day Funeral Home, Starbucks of Middletown, Waterman’s Applied Science, Rhizotomy Paddleboards and others.
A free stand up paddle demonstration led by the pros at Summertime Surf School and standuppaddlenj.com, a special yoga-warm up led by the staff at lululemon athletica and other activities on both land and sea brought people of all ages together.
Additional information about the Mercy Center and Sisters Academy is available by visiting www.MercyCenterNJ.org.
