Outrigger canoe paddlers prepared to travel 110 miles to raise awareness on need for clean water

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. (WECT) – Members of the Wrightsville Beach Outrigger Canoe Club are preparing to make a 110-mile trip to raise awareness on the need for clean water.

The “We the Water” initiative aims to raise money for the NC Coastal Federation.

“This journey has been a true labor of love. Clean water is not just a need, it’s a right, and using outrigger paddling to tell the story of our coast and shed light on these issues has been extraordinary,” said Kerri Allen, Coastal Federation Coastal Management Program Director and WBOCC Paddler.

The canoe will set off from Buxton on Sept. 13 toward the NC-Virginia border, aiming to arrive by Sept. 14.

You can find their schedule online, and there will be a Hawai’ian blessing of the canoe at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Swell Motel that is open to the public.

“Upon the completion of this arduous 110-mile trek, the group will return to Historic Corolla Park, where they will joyously mark the official conclusion of their remarkable 3-year, 325-mile paddling initiative. To learn more about the We the Water paddling initiative, extend your support for their fundraising efforts, or participate in a silent auction, please visit the Coastal Federation’s website at nccoast.org/paddle,” a NC Coastal Federation announcement states.

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