For many people, a natural reaction to finding something rare and amazing would be to never tell a soul. “I want to keep this all to myself!” Whether a gold strike, or a secret fishing spot, or a pristine and quiet wilderness hideaway where one is in tune with the Creator. There are things that we sometimes just don’t want to share.

But in this growing ‘paddlesport industry’ – if you don’t mind that term – we find something entirely different. Rarely does one get in a kayak or a canoe on a quiet stretch of water without coming away thinking, “I must tell everyone I know. My family and friends must experience this.” Paddlesports enthusiaists are almost evangelical in their approach .. whether they paddle and fish, paddle in tandem, sea kayak, shoot rapids, sit at anchor, catch a drift .. no matter. The sport grows in part because so many people come away saying, “You must try this!.”

It’s easy. It is especially easy for those who are able bodied and capable. It is especially easy for those who can afford boats and paddles and safety gear. It is especially easy for those with no visual or hearing impairment. But what about the have not’s? At Paddle4Tomorrow we say, why not?

Paddle4Tomorrow (P4T) takes access and participation an extra step. This is who we are. We go beyond the obvious. We seek out the sight impaired, we seek out the physically and mentally challenged, we seek out the underprivileged. We believe that their tomorrow is changed forever when their paddling confidence is established.

We absolutely believe that everyone should try this. But we know that there are those who need help the first time out. Maybe they need help the first five times out. We find a wonderful dynamic when a Special Olympian comes out to paddle. The family comes along. This is often true with the soldiers we meet as well. Even if the family is absent for one reason or another, a support network is in place. PAL volunteers have come with the inner-city kids, WTB specialists come with injured soldiers, physical therapists come with those recovering from brain injury. At P4T we are honored and privileged to become a part of that dynamic. As with so many ‘causes’, many of us come to an event hoping that we can help out .. but we come away from the experience having been helped. Our spirits are lifted, our relationships are restored, and we truly understand that we have paddled for tomorrow. For many tomorrows.

Thank you. Not just thanks to the donors. Not just thanks to the volunteers. Thanks to the soldiers, to their children, to the Special Olympians, to the kids, to the blind with such courage to swing a bat and wield a paddle. You change our lives. You make us who we are and you make us whole.