At dawn on September 21st, treasured member of the SUPBend family Judy Shasek will begin paddling from the spillway to the rapids just upstream of Healy Bridge and back. To celebrate her 10th anniversary of being cancer-free, Judy aims to complete this circuit 10 times before the day is done.
Judy calls her endeavor a “karmathon.” She invites others to participate by writing names of loved ones on ribbons that she will wear during the event. “If you would like to remember a special person, celebrate a life, send forward a prayer or otherwise recognize someone in your life who’s gone through a struggle or is in the midst of one, write his or her name on a ribbon and I will wear it on the day of my paddle,” she says.
Judy expects to complete her roughly 33-mile journey at about 4.00p.m. Supporters are welcome to cheer her on along the way or gather at the finish to celebrate.
A lover of the outdoors, Judy celebrated her 5th anniversary as a cancer survivor by completing a 100-mile Livestrong bicycle ride in Portland. Having been a SUPer for the last few years, she decided to honor her 10th anniversary by “setting out on the beautiful waters of the Deschutes right here in my home town. There is nothing quite like the moving meditation of doing some sort of physical activity outside – enjoying all that nature and life have to offer,” she says.
Ribbons are available at the shop (Stand Up Paddle Bend, 550 SW Industrial Way, #115). For further information, call 541.639.2655 or email Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com.
Judy in 1967 and Judy now.
