Sports
U.S. Veterans' Rowing & Kayaking holds First Responders Regatta
Two thousand dollars in prizes were awarded at the 1st Annual First Responders Kayaking Regatta on September 27 at Pinewood Lake in Trumbull
Two thousand dollars in prizes were awarded at the 1st Annual First Responders Kayaking Regatta on September 27 at Pinewood Lake in Trumbull, Conn.
The event was created and managed by U.S. Veterans’ Rowing & Kayaking (USVRK) Foundation, a 501c3 charitable foundation created solely to rehabilitate injured and disabled veterans.
Race participants included five-member teams from Trumbull EMS, Trumbull Fire Department, and Pinewood Lake Association (PLA) lifeguards.
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The lifeguards, active this summer in taking blind veterans on the water for double kayaking, were awarded the $1000 first place prize on Sunday.
Second-place prize of $500 was awarded to Trumbull EMS. Trumbull Firefighters took third place winning $250.
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A $250 donation was made to the Pinewood Lake Association for five years of outstanding service supporting USVRK’s summer recreational rehabilitation adaptive kayaking program for blind veterans.
“Recreational rehabilitation for these disabled veterans couldn't get any better as each guard built a special binding relationship with each of the blind military members,” said USVRK Chief Executive Officer Paul-Stephen Varszegi.
Varszegi said a goal of this special annual invitational regatta is to draw first responders from neighboring communities including Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, and Fairfield to race against one another for bragging rights and prize money.
“Eventually, the venue will be moved to a larger lake area because of the anticipated size and success,” said Varszegi. “A larger goal is to make this a national event to fully honor first responders who may have served in the military and who risk their lives on a daily basis.”
Varszegi said, “We are grateful for the wonderful relationship with our Pinewood Lake Trumbull Division. Due to demonstrated leadership, Head PLA Lifeguard Ray Kingsbury has been chosen to run this event for the USVRK military foundation in 2021 and beyond.”
The race began at 9:15am after 8am practice and concluded at 10:55am. Grilled hotdogs and burgers with watermelon and chips were then served to competing athletes.
For more information, visit http://www.veteransrowing.org