This year, the St. John community will be out again in force to support Team River Runners’ 2017 Wounded Veterans program fundraiser. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 23. In 2011, a total of 16 teams took part in the first annual St. John Chaotic Kayak Race on Oppenheimer Beach; by 2016 it had ramped up to 40 teams. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will be used to bring wounded veterans down island for four different events on healing at the beautiful waters surrounding St. John.
Team River Runner (TRR) was founded at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2004 by Washington, D.C.-area kayak enthusiast Joe Mornini. He has been the coordinating and directing adaptive paddling clinics for wounded and disabled veterans on St. John since 2007. While the group was forced to cancel its 2008 trip due to lack of funds, that will never again be the case because of the ongoing support of the generous St. John community.
Come to the 7th Annual St. John Chaotic Kayak. Free shuttles from town are offered; do not bring a vehicle as parking is limited to event sponsors and staff. There will be music, beer tents, food, kayak races, raffle prizes and more.
For more information about the event, contact Tom Larson at 514-0778 or e-mail at Sadieseacharters@gmail.com. For more information about Team River Runner, visit its Web site at www.teamriverrunner.org.
