Nineteen-year-old Madeline Leblanc has continued to turn her passion of standup paddle boarding (SUP) into a fundraiser to honour two friends lost to cancer. Madeline bought her first board and started paddling in 2012, after she fell in love with the sport at age ten. In 2011, Julia Turner passed away at fifteen due to a brain tumor and, earlier that same year, Lynn Lambert passed at thirty-seven. They were two wonderful people that deserve to be remembered because of the legacy’s they left behind. They were always giving back to others in the community and putting others needs before their own. They both taught all of Welland to treasure every moment of your life, and dedicate yourself to helping others when you can.
As a result of the young girls’ passings, Madeline created On Board. For the first event (held on July 10, 2014),she paddled 10 kilometres down the Welland Canal in a little over two hours to raise funds for brain cancer research. Creating On Board was her way of saying goodbye to Julia and Lynn, and also her way of giving back to the cancer community. The impact this event has left on Madeline has driven her to run this event again for a third consecutive year.
On Thursday July 14, Madeline will be paddling 10 kilometres down the Welland Canal and encourages others to join her. The paddling journey will start at 2 p.m. at the Welland International Flatwater Centre (WIFC) on Townline Rd. From there, participants will paddle to the Pen Financial Credit Union Flatwater Centre, then turn around and head back to the WIFC. At the starting point, one of the event’s sponsors (Ausmosis Board Works)will be hosting a free SUP demo day if people would like to try paddle boarding. There will be a free BBQ as well, along with extra On Board t-shirts that will be on sale for $15.
Information for participants and donors
Those who are interested in paddling must contact Madeline through email at madeline.leblanc17@hotmail.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/maddisrideonboard. There is no registration fee or age limit. Paddlers will meet at 1:30 p.m. Those wishing to participate are encouraged to bring a kayak, canoe, or SUP board as well as a personal flotation device such as a lifejacket. At 2 p.m. the paddling will start and continue for approximately two or three hours. Afterwards, all participants are invited for a social: swim and refreshments!
You may donate directly by cash or cheque to Madeline (cheques can be made out to the Canadian Cancer Society) or online using the link by clicking HERE
The fundraising goal for this year is $3,000!
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