This happened when young Kira Buchanan finished the Graveyard Race

Every year, something magical happens at the Carolina Cup. This year, at the end of the Carolina Cup race day, the last two racers headed to the finish. One of these was Gorge paddle athlete and cancer survivor, Kira Buchanon. As they approached the finish, the wind kicked south at 20+, forcing the two paddlers into the beach. The crowd, waiting to greet Kira at the finish ran down to meet here at the beach where it was just a footrace to the finish. Seeing this made our heart happy. What an amazing athlete and community.

Escorted by Fiona Wylde, April Zilg and a legion of groms, Kira Buchanan, Athlete, Cancer Survivor –finishes the grueling 13.5 mile “Graveyard” race in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Video by Paul Camarena

You never know why someone lines up at the start of a race, what they’ve been through, or what finishing will mean to them, their family and friends. Kira, you are such an inspiration. Congratulations to Kira and her family—her Dad Joey—and all her friends who made this group finish so wonderful.