A small group of paddlers joined last year's Crazy Kayak tour.

The group, organized by the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, is seeking paddlers to join a Catawba River expedition beginning June 11. Can’t paddle? They need sponsors too.

Last June, a group of kayakers paddled a couple of hundred miles down the Catawba River to raise awareness of water quality along the river and raise money for The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. They’ll be back again this year, with a 225-mile trip that starts June 11, 2011, and they’re seeking fellow paddlers to join the expedition and sponsors to contribute.

Here’s a press release from the group with details:

CRAZY KAYAK 2nd ANNUAL RIVER BASIN TOUR

Sponsor the Crazy Kayakers and help keep the Catawba River Clean and Free Flowing

Starting on June 11, 2011, the Crazy Kayakers with Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation will hit the rivers and lakes of the Catawba River basin to promote water quality awareness and to proclaim recreational water usage of approximately 225 miles of the Catawba River during the weekends of June and July.

We will begin our 108 mile paddle near the headwaters of the river on Lake James and end our journey at Lake Wateree State Park. Novice and experienced paddlers stand up paddlers, and sailors are invited to join us during the social events planned along the way.

Whether you join us on the water or would like to keep your feet on dry ground, we would love to have you sponsor our Crazy Kayakers. Sponsor at any level as a way to participate (example $1.00 per mile) and support our mission. Choose your level of sponsorship and sponsor with:

Credit card online at http://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/join/member-donate.

Mail a donation of your choice to Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, 421 Minuet Lane Suite 205, Charlotte NC 28217

We will have T-shirts for sale to commemorate your participation in this adventure, we encourage you to support us with a purchase of one for $25.00 at the event site.

Bring your own boats, stand up paddle board, etc. or call a local outfitter. Visit our website or meet-up site http://www.meetup.com/Catawba-Riverkeeper-Foundation/> to sign up and receive more information on outfitters, etc. You may also view images from last years Crazy Kayak Tour.

You may follow this year’s tour on our website and Twitter (CRFRiverkeeper) throughout the weekends of June and July.

For more information call Tracy Tripp, Community Coordinator for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation at 704-679-9494 or email her at tracy@catawbariverkeeper.org

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