Please Join Paddle for Heroes

If you are a Veteran, Active Duty, and/or Current or former First Responder (Police, Fire, EMS), and accompanying family member of one of these, please consider joining Paddle for Heroes.

Paddle for Heroes helps the community

ADA Accessible Kayak Launch

The goal of Paddle for Heroes is to help our community through healing through paddling and to ensure that our waterways are clean. Every person should be able to share in the same access to the water and enjoy the experience in a clean environment.

Our specific objectives for this endeavor were to: Raise funds to install an ADA Accessible Kayak Launch at Ariel-Foundation Park. Help our community and those that have disabilities get back on the water easily and safely. Allow those that have not been able to enjoy the water because of a disability have access to the activities they enjoy most. Promote outdoor activities that support healing and health.

Cleaning Up Our Rivers

Paddle for Heroes has participated with Knox County Recycling & Litter Prevention, along with other volunteers, in several river clean ups on the Kokosing River and Mohican River. The goal is to help our rivers stay clean and healthy for many years for people to enjoy.

Paddle for Heroes volunteers have participated in river clean ups for the Kokosing River in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, 2021 and the Mohican River in 2019 and 2020 and 2021. We have also taken our river clean-ups to Michigan and participated in the Jordan River clean-up in 2018 and cleaned the White River in 2020. As Paddle for Heroes grows, the goal will be to clean up many additional waterways throughout the Midwest along with support of volunteers, veterans and first responders.

Mission

Our mission is to involve veterans, first responders, and others with river clean ups, community projects, disaster relief and healing through paddling.

Philosophy

Paddle for Heroes was organized on behalf of veterans and others that have suffered traumatic events that deserve the opportunity to enjoy the little things in life and to be given the opportunity to heal.

We believe that nature and water are powerful in the healing process.

We believe that individuals should have access to the same activities no matter their physical or mental status.

We believe that healing and enjoyment is unique to each individual and if we can help just a few, that is going a long way.

Right now I am not looking for your money, I am looking to involve you in our activities and to get you to become active in our group. We will have some exciting activities this Summer.

Starting with our 2022 miles in 2022 Challenge https://www.facebook.com/groups/692864784764156/

Next on

SAT, MAY 14 AT 9 AM

4th Annual Paddle for Heroes 5K https://www.facebook.com/events/1262311257623560/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D

SAT, JUN 18 – JUN 23

6th Annual Mount Vernon to Marietta 160 mile Paddle

Paddle For Heroes – Memorial Park https://www.facebook.com/events/607396717189575/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D

We will most likely be on the lake at Ariel Foundation park in Mount Vernon, OH for Independence Day fireworks again this year.