Do you love the lake? How about stand up paddle boarding?
Life’s a float in the Okanagan, but some individuals don’t have it as easy. There are approximately 1.5 million people in Canada living with a brain injury. On Sunday, August 11 at Rotary Beach, BrainTrust Canada’s annual Pihl Law Paddle for Prevention will be hosting its 5th annual SUP fundraiser.
This annual stand-up paddle board fundraiser brings the community together, both corporations and families, to raise funds for education programs revolving around brain injury prevention. Anyone is able to participate, however they must be physically able to stand up paddle board. They are expecting 150 to 175 participants this year.
“With Pihl Law’s work in personal injury we see the serious impact of brain injury and how it can change someone’s life in an instant,” said Sean Pihl, lawyer with Pihl Law Corporation.
Because of their work, the corporation supports BrainTrust Canada every year to help awareness of brain injury to the forefront, reduce preventable injuries through education programs and support those who have been affected by brain injuries. Last year, the event raised $49,300 and had 148 paddlers participate. For the 5th anniversary of this fun event, BrainTrust Canada hopes to raise $50,000 for brain injury education and prevention in the Okanagan.
“We do presentations at schools and in the community about brain injury and brain injury prevention. We also have a conference every year for brain injury education,” said BrainTrust Canada Marketing and Events Coordinator, Carly Suddard.
Because 30% of all traumatic brain injuries are sustained by children and youth, BrainTrust Canada participates in the P.A.R.T.Y. Program and distributes bike helmets to youth and children.
Suddard has been working at BrainTrust Canada for over a year loves the work that they do.
“This year I sustained a concussion and I truly realize how life changing a brain injury or concussion can be for an individual.”
With these facts, BrainTrust has distributed 2,825 helmets, served 26,050 clients and reached 42,500 youth with their prevention messages.
Starting with an 8:30 am yoga warm-up before the race, the teams will gather at Rotary Beach to get ready for their 100 meter sprint relay race on paddle boards at 9 am. There will be play-by-play commentary for this friendly competition!
There will be different heats for round one with up to 7 teams racing at the same time – each team gets to race twice. The teams that have the best times get to advance to the semi-final and final rounds.
If you get out early, but don’t want the fun to end, teams are able to buy back into the race.
If you do get out early, there will be community booths to engage with and a massage station courtesy of Okanagan Athletic Therapy – sounds like the perfect thing after a SUP race!
Can’t make it to the race but still want to donate? No problem! BrainTrust will be accepting donations online or you can quickly stop by the event to donate.
Find three of your closest friends, family members or co-workers and register a team to fundraise for brain injury prevention. There will be prizes for donations raised and racing efforts! Hint: You could win a paddle board, an ultimate sports package and more!
Registration closes on August 7, 2019 at 12 pm. Click here to register.
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