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The Taylor Pelotte Surf-A-Thon is growing year by year. The second annual event, sponsored by the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society (PPCS), was held in the Forks on Saturday, July 31. Over forty paddlers ran the Dead River to raise $15,855 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.
Another $1,250 was raised by Lt/Col Chip Ridky, a PPCS member and Air National Guard member stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq. Lacking a boat or even a stream to paddle on, Lt/Col Ridky stayed on an elliptical trainer at the base recreation tent for over four hours while his fellow soldiers played the weekly Super Bingo and stuffed his pickle jar for Make-A-Wish.
The Surf-A-Thon was named to honor Taylor Pelotte, who died last November after a 14-month battle with cancer. Taylor was the 9-year-old daughter of PPCS members Greg and Sharon Pelotte of Winslow. The Pelotte family had taken a trip to Disney World courtesy of Make-A-Wish in August 2003. They and their friends were thrilled to be able to give something back to that organization that does so much for seriously ill children and their families.
Participants raised money by soliciting pledges for paddling the Dead River. A group of four paddlers accepted the “Surf-A-Thon Hammerhead Challenge” and ran the Dead twice in one day. (And they know what it’s like to get ahead of the dam release.)
Surf-A-Thon organizer Kyle Duckworth was happy to see interest in the event expanding outside the PPCS. “We had participants from the Boston and Maine AMC chapters, MACKRO (Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization), and many friends and relatives of Greg and Sharon Pelotte. In addition to raising the money, that’s an important goal of this event: To bring different folks together for a great time and a great cause.”
The PPCS would like to thank all who participated, and especially Andy and Karen Webb of Riverdrivers Whitewater Rafting who graciously provided rafts, guides, camping space, and the use of their new base for the Surf-A-Thon potluck supper.
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