Published: October 09, 2008 06:12 am      

“Paddle for Life” Kayak and Canoe Race brings hope to many

Sunday, Sept. 21, was a beautiful day for kayaking and canoeing. For weeks now, Faith Bible Fellowship of Fairfield Glade has combined efforts to raise funds for Crossville-based Plateau Pregnancy Services.

There were over 70 spectators, racers, sponsors, donors and staffers on site to watch the race, which started at the St. George Marina at 2:30 p.m. Fairfield Glade winners were John Coles, who took first place in the men’s single kayak race; Jack Melling came in second in the kayak race. In the women’s single heats, Marcia Gigante took first place in heat 1 and Christine McGowan took first place in heat 2. In the men’s doubles canoe race, Jerry Thompson and Roger Douglass took first place, and Gary and Patty Thompson took first place in the mixed doubles canoe race. All participants were residents of the Glade.

Our heartfelt thanks to all of the financial sponsors who were Cumberland Eye Care, Dr. Stewart Galloway; Hughes Realty; Cumberland County Bank; Private Wealth Management; and Lefty’s Barbecue. Each racer gave $10 to race and several boosters raised money to back the racers. All told, $3,000 was raised for Plateau Pregnancy Services, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary of saving lives, thus the event title, “Paddle for Life.”

Those businesses which provided wonderful race-winner prizes as well as raffle prizes were Ace Hardware, A-1 Auto Repair, Big Boy's BBQ, The Brass Lantern Restaurant, Bread Box, Brownstones Gifts, Chestnut Hill Winery, Crossville Tire & Appliance, Cumberland County Playhouse, Custard Cabin, Curves, D-Squared Productions, Family Ties Restaurant of Crossville, Fairfield Glade Beauty Shop, Food City of FFG, Four Seasons Golf, Hair Connection Beauty Shop, Heartland Florist, Hill's Fresh Market, Jennie’s Barber Shop, Kroger Pharmacy, Lefty's Barbecue, Peavine Floral, Pirate's Plateau, Poste Haste, Quizno’s Subs, Rusty Rooster and Tony’s Restaurant. We would be remiss if we did not thank the local newspapers for all the excellent coverage of this event.

Since ultrasounds began in September 2007, seven babies were saved from abortion, and the agency saw a 56 percent increase in client visits. Just in the last school year, 3,554 students were involved in Project Truth in the local schools — learning the “truth” about sexuality and their individual right to wait for marriage. The “Paddle for Life” event was planned to raised funds for this wonderful work and have fun doing it.