This story was recently published in the New York daily news. In August, kayaker Erik Baard of Long Island City, will kayak around Long Island to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.

Erik is propelled by the memory of a kind landlady from his childhood who taught him how to read and write, bought him school clothes and took him on weekend trips. Baard’s new 17 footer is aptly named “Gillie” (after the landlady).

“It’s a crime that someone who gave so many memories lost her own,” said the affable Baard, a journalist-turned-blogger who founded the Long Island City Community Boathouse.

“At some point, Gillie wasn’t able to understand the love she was receiving,” he said. “This is a way of taking the love that I have for her and giving it to other families.”

The trip will take at least 15 days and will span about 292 miles!

Erik, founder of the Long Island City Community Boathouse, will leave on August 13 from the World’s Fair Marina in Queens. All money Erik raises will go to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Click here to read the Daily News article.

Click here to donate to the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Click here to track Erik on his epic journey of love.

Good luck Erik! Safe travels!

Check out this great article by Keith Benoist from KayakMississippi.com, home of the upcoming Phatwater Challenge:

Kayaking isn’t for everybody. There just isn’t enough room. Imagine, six billion people all trying to launch at the same time.

Sure, there’s plenty of shoreline in the world, plenty of open water, plenty of Rocky Mountain springs trickling to the sea. But you line six billion people up with a paddle at the same time and fire the gun, and, next thing you know, WHAM. Head injury. A pair of broken sunglasses at the very least. “Your Honor, my client has been grievously injured by the defendant. We are seeking damages and punitive awards in the amount of —”

I don’t know if lawyers kayak…(click here to read the rest of this great article)