Registration is now open for the “Heroes 2 Oregon” (H2O), the first Dragon Boat Paddle Challenge to be held in Lane County. It is a fund raising event to benefit local wounded Veterans and will take place on Saturday, July 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Dexter State Park, 20 miles southeast of Eugene on Highway 58. It is presented by the City of Eugene Adaptive Recreation Program; Eugene, Cascades, and Coast Sports; and the Emerald City Dragon Boat Club. Spectators attend for free and are encouraged to cheer on their team.
Friends, co-workers, family members, or acquaintances age 14 and older can register in teams of up to 18 people. Individuals can register as "free agents” and be assigned to a team. No experience is needed. The Dragon Boats, life jackets, a steer-person and a caller will be provided to each team. The entry fee through June 14 is $500 per team or $25 for an individual; from June 15-July 7, the fee is $700. Registration closes on July 7.
The race is simple; teams paddle a prescribed 250-meter course out and back; rankings will be decided by time. Each team will be guaranteed a minimum of two races. Learn more about the H2O Paddle Challenge and register to participate at the URL below.
Proceeds from the event will help 13 local injured veterans regain their active lifestyle by sending them to the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. The fundamental purpose of the clinic is to provide early intervention for Veterans battling back from injury, by not only strengthening their bodies but overcoming and improving their overall being and sense of self-worth. Veterans from all over the country attend the clinic. Their injuries range from traumatic brain injury and polytrauma, to spinal cord injury or loss of limb. Find more information about the Summer Veterans sports Clinic visit: http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/ssc/index.asp.