Go Paddle Event Profile: Seventh Annual Tyler’s Dam that Cancer

Date

July 11, 2016

EDITOR’s NOTE:

Due to current lake conditions and flood gate activity, The Flatwater Foundation has postponed the 7th Annual Tyler’s Dam That Cancer fundraising event to Monday, July 11, 2016. The event, a 21-mile course from Mansfield Dam on Lake Austin to Tom Miller Dam (Hula Hut) made by 160 participants on stand-up paddleboards, and the welcome-to-shore celebration were originally slated for Monday, June 13.

The safety of all participants and staff is a top priority, and the current waterways pose many hazards for recreational activities. Tyler’s Dam That Cancer will be moved to July 11 to allow flood waters to subside. Despite this shift, The Flatwater Foundation and event participants are eager to continue efforts in training and fundraising leading up to the event.

Location

Lake Austin, Austin, Texas

Can you describe the paddle event?

Created seven years ago by Mark Garza, Founder and Executive Director of The Flatwater Foundation, Tyler’s Dam That Cancer aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental health support for families and individuals affected by a cancer diagnosis. Each year, Tyler’s Dam That Cancer invites participants to travel a 21-mile course from Mansfield Dam on Lake Austin to Tom Miller Dam on standup paddleboards. The event culminates in a celebration, welcoming paddlers to shore. Each participating paddler pledges to raise a minimum of $2,000 in donations in support of the fundraising goal of $500,000.

What kind of paddling settings and conditions will racers face?

21-miles of flatwater paddling on Lake Austin

Are there paddleboard rentals available and if yes, where? Contact info?

Tahoe SUP is the official paddleboard sponsor this year. In support of the event, Tahoe SUP is providing equipment to key paddlers, as well as donating paddle boards to the cause to help raise awareness and inspire people to get involved year-round. In addition, professional paddler Ronnie Ayres and Tahoe SUP founder, Nate Brouwer, will join this year’s 160 participating paddlers on the water.

Tell us more about the charity this event supports.

THE FLATWATER FOUNDATION is an Austin-based, nonprofit dedicated to providing those in the community diagnosed with cancer as well as their families and loved ones access to mental health therapy and family support. The Foundation’s approach combines access to traditional and nontraditional methods of psychological counseling, while encouraging participation in exercise and outdoor activities as a means of providing balance and mental well-being. In addition to its annual fundraising stand-up paddleboarding event, Tyler’s Dam That Cancer, The Flatwater Foundation produces other nontraditional events, partners with the fitness and health community, and builds relationships with the mental health community to break the stigma associated with mental health support and to ensure the awareness of the importance of mental health when coping with a diagnosis.

What makes your event great? What will paddlers love about coming to your event?

The Flatwater Foundation aims to break down the stigma associated with seeking mental health support. This unifying event is a 21-mile journey that participants make together, all in the effort to raise awareness and funds for the cause. Tyler’s Dam That Cancer has grown from the 15 participants seven years ago to the 160 paddling this June.

Website
http://tylersdtc.com

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Twitter
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