For Ian Gregory-Davis, being active is a way of life. “I’ve always been an outdoor person—hiking, biking, playing. My parents always had my sisters and me on the water and we went camping every year,” the Meriden, NH, native and rising senior at Skidmore College explains. This summer is no different. After his jobs coaching tennis and working in the admissions office at Skidmore are done, and before he heads into the home stretch to earn his double major in Exercise Science and Spanish, there is just enough time for Ian’s parents, John and Susan, to scoop him up for a family camping trip in Maine.
Along the way, however, they’ll take two days to participate in their tradition of the past five years. They will join a massive group of fellow paddlers for a 20-mile trek down the Connecticut River to help raise funds for Suicide Awareness and Prevention as part of PaddlePower, a new charitable athletic event in the Positive Tracks network of partnerships. John describes the event, now in its 14th year, simply as a “Flotilla of Love.”
PaddlePower features a two-day canoe/kayak trip down the Connecticut River from Orford, NH, to Wilder, VT. This year’s event also includes a Sunday morning hike on the Hazen Trail via Kilowatt Park in Wilder, VT. All proceeds support the emergency mental health services at West Central Behavioral Health, a nonprofit community mental health agency based in Lebanon, N.H., and one of Positive Tracks’ newest Charity Partners, thanks to a partnership with Hypertherm HOPE Foundation.
PADDLING WITH PURPOSE: Ian and his family are part of Team Paddle for Jazzie, a team organized by Meriden Congregational Church, and PaddlePower’s top fundraising team last year. The team has participated the past five years in honor of their friend Jasmine Rogers, who died six years ago, when she was a junior at Lebanon High School. Jasmine grew up as a member of the Meriden Congregational Church, and was confirmed there. “After Jazzie’s death, we were all devastated,” explains John, Co-Pastor of the church with wife, Susan. “We were looking for something positive to do.”
That was where church member Odile Clavier jumped in. “I learned about PaddlePower, and it seemed like a good way for church youth to channel their emotions into something more positive,” recalls Clavier. A couple of months after Jazzie’s death, she pitched the idea to Ian and some of his friends. “I love canoeing and I’ve always wanted to do stuff like this,” says Ian. “We came up with the name ‘Paddle for Jazzie,’ and Odile headed it all up.” Clavier is still very involved recruiting young people—including her own three kids—and helping youth with fundraising efforts. That includes a Facebook campaign, an annual car-wash in Meriden, and some 200 letters the kids send to local small businesses keen to support the kids and the cause.
From the start Ian was hooked. He makes time each summer, even from afar, to recruit other youth participants in what is truly a community effort, with youthful enthusiasm and critical adult support. John describes Ian as “such a team player, who is great at drawing people in.” And Ian gives “a huge shout out to my parents for figuring out logistics and making it happen every year.” The team gets the use of two trailers of canoes from Kimball Union Academy (KUA). “Most people show up as a family or a couple with one boat on their car,” explains Ian. “We show up with about eight canoes!”
HOW IT WORKS: Ian describes PaddlePower as “an incredibly well-run and well-supported event.” The first day covers roughly 14 miles from Orford to Wilson’s Landing, in three segments with stops for a snack and lunch. “We did three people per canoe so one person is always resting,” says Ian, who affirms that “it’s long and tiring—even for the fairly fit— but doable.” There are plenty of water gun battles along the way. And a masseuse gives 15 minute massages throughout the entire weekend – in past years, at least. After the first day, paddlers stow their boats at Wilson’s Landing and are shuttled to Storrs Pond to camp for the night, complete with swimming, volleyball, dinner and a raffle, plus music and s’mores. The next day is a 6-mile paddle to Killowatt Park, where all paddlers enjoy music and lunch. From there, volunteers shuttle participants back to cars, wherever they may be. “They just make it work, especially for newbies,” explains Ian.
As a Positive Tracks partner, all youth participants—as part of any team or individual effort—get awareness building and fundraising tools and support. They also get their dollars doubled. “I hope Positive Tracks involvement will get more young people to sign up and participate,” says Ian, who was thrilled when Positive Tracks came on board. “Already more people are willing to donate to me, knowing their donation will be matched.”
THE POWER OF TALK: The cause makes the fun more meaningful, particularly for young people who are most at risk for suicide, yet often have a hard time talking about suicide and its impact. This year PaddlePower’s Honorary Chair is Jasmine’s mother, Karen Rogers, which makes the event even more special for Paddle For Jazzie. “For me, the magic of the event is when you are on the water, and get to talking about why you’re there,” says Ian. “There aren’t many people who have not been affected by suicide in some way. Being out there and able to talk about it is pretty powerful.” To Clavier, the importance of youth participation is clear. “Often it’s the kids who first notice signs of depression in their peers,” she says. “Suicide seems so preventable. With awareness, kids can recognize the signs – in themselves and others – and know there are tools and people who can help.”
In what has become a tradition, John will send the flotilla off with a blessing that is inclusive and positive. “We remember those we have lost and affirm that life is beautiful.” Over the next two days, they will talk, laugh, cry, shoot water guns, camp, sweat and paddle some more. As Ian promises with a laugh: “You’ll be sore, but you’ll feel good inside and out.”
For more information about supporting PaddlePower as a participant, donor or volunteer visit www.paddlepower.org Learn more about West Central Behavioral Health at www.WCBH.org. Support Paddle for Jazzie by donating or visiting them on their facebook page.