Photo courtesy of Rick Mozolic

Photo courtesy of Rick Mozolic

The Petersburg Medical Center is postponing the Paddle Battle fundraiser until next weekend. The decision was made to change the date because of the weather predicted for this Saturday.

Chad Wright is Executive Assistant for the medical center.

“We looked at the weather forecast and it’s looking like wind and rain and waves so just for the safety of the paddlers, a concern for them, we want this to be a fun event, we’ve decided to postpone the Paddle Battle,” Wright said.

The event has been moved to next Saturday, July 30. The tides will be different then so there is a new starting time of 8:30 a.m. at Papkes. Kayakers will paddle up the Wrangell Narrows to Sandy Beach, a distance of about 14 miles. There are also starting points at Scow Bay and South Harbor later in the morning for those not wanting to do the full trip.

The Paddle Battle is the Petersburg Medical Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year. This is the third year it’s been held.

Wright says the money raised makes a difference.

“Previous years the funds have gone to the Long Term Care facility and for parallel bars in the physical therapy department and this year’s funds will be going to purchase an ergonomic shower chair for the residents of Long Term Care and that just makes it easier for residents and the employees who are bathing those residents,” he said.

More information about the Paddle Battle can be found on PMC’s website, or on the event’s Facebook page.