Saturday morning others will ride with Thomas using their own man-power — no motors please — from the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort to the Newport Pier and back, all in the name of local charities.
Funndit.com is donating $10 to the charity of each participant’s choice when they join Thomas and his longtime friend Ed McLean out in the bay Saturday morning for the first Paddle-Pedal charity event. Paddlers can use anything from hydro-bikes, kayaks, paddle boards or whatever else they want. The idea is just to have some fun under the sun and do it for charity, McLean said.
“I just want to see this explode,” Thomas said.
He originally envisioned a paddle-pedal event from Newport Beach to Catalina island, but he and friends soon shot for something more realistic for the event’s first time out.
“He kept bugging me about doing the ride,” McLean joked. Seven months ago, the men decided they could take Thomas’ hobby that helped him and turn it into an opportunity to help others.
“I’m excited, he’s excited,” said Gay Wassall-Kelly, Thomas’ mother. “He’s out there right now whirling and greasing up everything for the ride.”
The selfless theme behind the event is nothing new for Thomas, who, for years has been going around Southern California speaking in alcohol-awareness classes for parents and in classrooms talking to kids about the dangers of drinking and driving.
To register and guarantee $10 for your charity, go to funndit.com.
If You Go
What: The inaugural Paddle-Pedal Charity event raising money for the charity of your choice
Where: Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach
When: Watercraft will launch at 7:30 a.m. Saturday
More Information: Online at paddle-pedal.com or call Ed McLean at (949) 929-3266.
