Monster and Sea 24 2018
Members of #teamblu, including Ariel Amaral, Sonia Jafar and Lucas Walters, recently participated in a 24hr paddle benefitting families dealing with cancer.
Here is what Lucas had to say about the experience paddling with the Canmore, Alberta team:
Originally I saw this event through Troy's page on Instagram a few years back. In 2017 I paddled with the team but could not commit to the full 24 hours.
This year my friend Chad asked me to be part of the team, and I was excited to take the opportunity. I loved the idea of heading back to Canmore, being with my friends and raising awareness and funds for a great cause. It wasn't all easy. Spring time in the Rockies presents challenges, like snow squalls and freezing water. Before this event I had never paddled through the night, and the hours from 3:30 am till 6:30 am were a struggle, fighting to leave the warm, safe shelter of our van. But I remembered why we where out there and how cancer takes no breaks. There were also the high spots: swapping stories in the middle of the night, and watching the sunrise on a snow covered board was awesome!
This year cancer hit someone very close to us, and this has been a strange thing to deal with. Seeing the effect it has on the people you love can be a hard thing. It leaves you feeling powerless and incapable. This event is just one way to give back to the people who need it. This event was a Team effort, we started and finished together. We had an awesome crew off the water who supported us by brining us food, warm drinks, and encouraging words. I am excited to see how this event will grow in years to come.