River Gorge Excursions, a pontoon boat tour and rental company, announces its 4th annual Paddle for PanCAN 5K event. This is a kayak/paddle board 5K with all of the proceeds benefiting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and its research to fight the disease. Paddle for PanCAN has raised over $15,700 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the past three years.
Pancan.org shares that, "Pancreatic takes 90 percent of its victims within five years and kills more people than breast cancer in the United States.
Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. Thanks to PanCAN's approach to fighting pancreatic cancer, the survival rate reached double digits in 2020 and increased to 12 percent in 2023, along with a 14 percent awareness rate."
"River Gorge Excursions is honored to have the ability to give back to an organization that has affected so many families near and far," officials said.
Individuals can participate in the 5K on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m.-noon. The race will start at the Suck Creek Boat Launch, 1907 Suck Creek Road in Chattanooga.
Participants will paddle upriver towards Williams Island for 1.55 miles and then paddle back to the starting line. Registration is $40 per entry and there will be a lunch afterparty at River Drifters for an additional fee. River Gorge Excursion’s
website and Eventbrite page have more race information and access to tickets.
There will be four divisions of the race: Adult Male, Adult Female, Tandem Kayak and Child entry. The fastest time in each division will be awarded a prize donated by one of the sponsors. Additionally, all participants receive a t-shirt the day of the event and will be entered to win raffle prizes from various local businesses.
There is still time for companies to sponsor or donate to Paddle for PanCAN until Sept. 1. This year's sponsors include: Hemp House, HHM CPAs, Brackton Smith CFP, River Canyon Adventures and RevIVe.
River Gorge Excursions wants to make this event accessible for everyone who wants to participate. If you would like to participate or need race equipment, contact River Gorge Excursions. “This will be a fun event to get people outdoors while creating awareness for pancreatic cancer,” said Jesse Gaylor, owner of River Gorge Excursions.