Don’t be surprised to see more than 18 kayaks floating along in the Neuse River next week.
They will make up the second annual Hope Floats NC fundraising event to raise cancer awareness, honor and remember those who have battled cancer and fight back against the disease by raising money for the American Cancer Society to fund prevention and research programs.
The 170-mile trip begins at Anderson Point Park in Raleigh on Saturday and ends at Union Point Park in New Bern on April 26.
Participating kayakers will spend the night of April 24 at Neuseway Nature Center and on April 25 at Maple Cypress Landing in Grifton.
The public is invited to welcome them from 6 to 8 p.m. at their stopping points, purchase concessions from Relay for Life teams and donate to the ACS. After dark, there will be candlelight prayer at Neuseway.
Eighteen paddlers will be taking the entire seven-day trip, while 19 others will be joining at various stretches. Included among them is Pam Turner, chairwoman of the Lenoir County Relay for Life, who will be paddling with a two-time survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “I can’t wait. This is my very first time.”
Turner will be paddling from Seven Springs Wildlife Access on April 23 to Grifton. Other campsite stops include Smithfield Town Commons on Saturday, Richardson Bridge Wildlife Access at Brogdon on Sunday and Goldsboro Wildlife Access at N.C. 117 on Monday.
Lenoir County’s Electrolux Dish-Walkers team will be providing dinner for the paddlers when they arrive in Kinston and breakfast before they take off. Relay teams also will be selling goodies to the public.
At the Smithfield Commons Amphitheater, 200 S. Front St., a local team will host a free concert featuring Carolina Tradition Bluegrass Band, Carolina Grass Band and Tim Renfrow and Feelin’ Country from 3 to 6 p.m.
Raffle tickets will be sold at each stop for three prizes — a kayak, guided kayaking trip for four and $100 Visa gift card. The drawing will be held in New Bern at the end of the trip. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win.
The trip will culminate with the Craven County Relay for Life event at 5 p.m. April 26 at Grover C. Fields Middle School.
Chris Tart and his wife Kim areorganizers for the trip. He said last year the event brought in $13,000 for the ACS. The 220-mile trip ended in Morehead City, but was shortened this year to end in New Bern. The goal this year is $10,000.
“We know we’re going to meet our goal and exceed our goal,” Tart said. He said his future goal is to have events held at every stop on the trip.
Turner agreed. Lenoir County Relay’s fundraising goal is $205,000.
“I really think if everybody jumped on board,” she said, “we could raise a lot of money for Relay for Life.” This year’s Lenoir County event will be held June 14.
Hope Floats NC was initiated by Kim Tart after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2008 and had undergone treatments and surgeries. To increase exercise and reduce her stress, she began kayaking.
“It helped with her long-term recovery,” her husband said.
She had paddled as long as 5 miles, but wanted to do a 300-mile trip to raise money for cancer research. The couple formed a team of people around the state — people they didn’t know. The result was last year’s Hope Floats NC.
To follow the events along this year’s fundraising trip, visit hopefloatsnc.com.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
FYI
What: Hope Floats NC coming to Kinston
When: 6 to 8 p.m. April 24
Where: Neuseway Nature Center
Information: 910-890-1094 or hopefloatsnc.com
Raffle tickets: $5 each or $20 for five; to purchase, email hopefloatsnc@gmail.com