Kayaking 4 Cancer initiative paddling toward $1-million mark

CTV’s Dylan Dyson has more on how a group of paddlers has raised nearly $1 million for cancer research.

A group of paddlers that has been navigating the Rideau Canal for the last 25 years is looking to cross the $1-million mark in funds raised for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The Kayaking 4 Cancer initiative has taken on the challenge of paddling from Kingston to Parliament Hill in Ottawa every August.

Kevin Dionne started Kayaking 4 Cancer after having the disease impact his family multiple times.

“In 2001, I just got tired of hearing the word. I was frustrated. I didn’t know what I could do,” Dionne tells CTV News Ottawa.

“I remember as a small boy, after my mother’s first diagnosis of cancer, her going house-to-house-to-house-to-house with a clipboard asking people for a donation. So, this didn’t come lightly by me.”

That first paddle in 2001 saw about a half dozen kayakers — family and friends of Dionne — take on the journey. Over the years, the event has grown and gained sponsorships.

“I’ve been a son of somebody with cancer. I’ve been a son-in-law of somebody with cancer. I’ve been a friend of somebody with cancer. I’ve been a cousin of somebody with cancer. I’ve been a nephew of somebody with cancer. I’ve never been a cancer patient,” says Dionne.

“I’ve seen it, and I’ve witnessed it from the beginning to the last breath. And if I can’t kayak the Rideau system for eight days to show those people in my heart that I care; I just wanted to do that.”

Heading into its 25th year, Kayaking 4 Cancer was roughly $122,000 shy of reaching the $1-million mark. All funds raised over the years have gone directly to the Canadian Cancer Society.

“We’re a small group. We’re just families and friends. We’re not a big corporation. We never thought the day we started this we’d be here 25 years later. And we never thought we’d see $1 million,” said Kurt Dionne, Kevin’s brother and co-organizer.

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When the group of about 20 kayakers reaches its destination of Parliament Hill Saturday, Kayaking 4 Cancer will have covered 5,000 kilometres along the Rideau system in its 25 years, a length that was a goal for Dionne to reach when first setting off in 2001.

“Terry Fox is a hero of mine. I remember him running through Brockville and just to think that it’s the 45th anniversary of his Marathon of Hope and that’s our 25th year of doing Kayaking 4 Cancer. It’s not about the money anymore. It’s about showing people with cancer that I care.”

Donations to the paddlers’ efforts can be made at kayakingforcancer.com.

“It will be an honor to say that we’ve given the Canadian Cancer Society $1 million,” says Dionne