The clouds were grey but the rain held off for the 3rd Annual Grand Day for Cobequid event held at Grand Lake on June 23.
More than $71,000 was raised for the Cobequid Health Foundation making the total funds raised more than $200,000 in three years.
"We were so happy with the event this year," said Ondra MacLean, event coordinator. "It was so exciting - everyone was buzzing about it."
This year 73 paddlers — a huge jump from the 58 participants from last year — came out for a day of water play. From experienced paddlers to people who have never been in a kayak, all enjoyed the course race that is made up of five docks for racers to stop and collect vouchers, which are used to bid on prizes at the end of the race.
MacLean said the word of the day for the day was ‘smooth'.
"Everyone commented on how well run the event was," she said. "How well organized and smooth everything went."
All funds raised from this year's event will go towards funding a Steris Reliance Endoscope Reprocessing System for use within the Endoscopy Suite at Cobequid Community Health Centre. Current demand is growing as the centre supports the new colon cancer-screening program. The efficiency that this system will facilitate will increase the number of patients that can be cared for at the centre.
The next big fundraiser for the foundation is the Walk/Run on held on Oct. 14 this year. This event has raised more than half a million dollars in 19 years.
"We ask people to put their ‘heart and sole" into this one," said MacLean.
For more information on the foundation and upcoming events go to www.cobequidfoundation.ca
