Paddle for the Promise to benefit Covenant Hospice

Covenant Hospice and the Fort Walton Yacht Club are teaming up to present the inaugural “Paddle for the Promise” stand-up paddleboard (SUP) race to benefit Covenant Hospice. This event will be held at the yacht club located on Choctawhatchee Bay, Saturday, August 3. A series of races for all skill levels and ages will be held beginning at 9 a.m.

Participants can choose between the 5-mile elite or 1-mile recreational course, as well as a three-person team relay race. A separate 1-mile race will be offered for youth aged 12 and under. To top it all off, a SUP jousting tournament is sure to make waves as gladiators clad in their most creative costumes attempt to knock one another in the water. Awards will be offered in various categories for each event, including best costume for jousting competitors.

An awards ceremony and post-race celebration with food, beverages and live music will be sponsored by FudPucker’s on Okaloosa Island from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration fees are $30 for each race entry and $20 for the youth 1-mile race. Fees include an event t-shirt and goody bag for each racer as well as entry to the post-race celebration. Advance registration is available online at www.eventsatcovenant.org/paddle or in person at Covenant Hospice’s Fort Walton Beach office, 220 Eglin Parkway NE. Day of event registration fees increase by $10. 

Corporate sponsorships are available and range from $250 to $5,000. Event organizers are currently seeking on-site vendors and community volunteers. For more information visit the event website at www.eventsatcovenant.org/paddle or contact Jenni Perkins at jenni.perkins@covenanthospice.org or (850) 598-5003.

All proceeds from Paddle for the Promise support Covenant Hospice’s special programs in Okaloosa and Walton counties. These programs include bereavement services for adults and children who have suffered a loss, chaplain services, specialized programs for veterans and indigent patient care. Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization celebrating 30 years of service to communities throughout Northwest Florida and South Alabama. They accept patients regardless of ability to pay, and last year provided more than $1.5 million in services to patients who were uninsured or underinsured.