Kiroli Foundation to host River Rat Paddle Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 12
Proceeds from race to benefit Kiroli Foundation and ACE Academy
The Kiroli Foundation will host the annual River Rat Paddle Challenge on the Ouachita River on Saturday, October 12.
The River Rat Paddle Challenge is one of the largest paddle races in Louisiana. Paddlers from across the state and multiple states will race 7.7 miles down the Ouachita River. The race includes divisions for paddleboards, canoes and kayaks of multiple lengths and styles. Paddlers will land at Lazarre Park, a recreational site located within the City of West Monroe. Since the race began in 2016, more than 850 paddlers have participated in the challenge.
Proceeds from this year’s race will benefit the Kiroli Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance all parks within the City of West Monroe, and Academy of Collaborative Education (ACE), a charter school dedicated to ensuring students with ASD have the opportunity to become lifelong learners.
The registration to enter the race is $70 per person, which includes a race t-shirt and post-race meal. Race t-shirts will be on sale to the general public for $25 each. This year’s shirt will feature a special tribute to Maddie Cannon, a co-founder of ACE who unexpectedly passed away in August. The shirt will include some of Maddie’s favorite colors – blue, black and pink. To purchase a t-shirt, please go to www.facebook.com/WMParksandRec where the link is pinned to the top of the page.
Registration for the River Rat Paddle Challenge is online. The online registration can be found at the top of West Monroe Parks & Recreation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wmparksandrec
Volunteers are needed for the race weekend at packet pickup on that Friday, Oct. 11 at Alley Park in downtown West Monroe or on race day at Lazarre Park. For more information about the River Rat Paddle Challenge or how to get involved, please email the Kiroli Foundation at kirolifoundation@westmonroe.la.gov
