Paddle boarding is a sport that appeals to many people in the West Palm Beach Area, and a recent event gave them a chance to combine it with helping others in need.
Around 100 hundred paddle boarders came together to participate in the first ever ‘Hope Floats Paddle Downtown West Palm Beach’ fundraising event earlier this month. Though many who took part used a standing version of the board, anyone with a paddle craft was welcome to join in the fun.
The money raised will be split between Surfers for Autism, The American Cancer Society, and the Share the Stoke Foundation.
The event was hosted by the Downtown Development Authority, and its Executive Director came out in person to take part. He noted that the goal of the event, besides fundraising, was to encourage people to get out and enjoy being on the water.
The paddle board route went from Royal Park Bridge to Flagler Memorial Bridge. Participants could choose between the elite group, which did four laps of the course, and the recreational group, which did two. Those who took part in the elite group were eligible to win a portion of the $2,000 prize, which was to be split three ways.
An event like this can make for a fun afternoon for all those who participate, and can also help to encourage others to take up the sport. A banner printing company can create a large race banner to hang over the water and add to the overall festive feeling of the day.
