Women Paddle Against Domestic Violence

Paddlers for Humanity will kick off its summer events this Sunday with to benefit , a domestic violence advocacy group and shelter.

This local nonprofit holds paddle sport charity events on the East End over the summer to raise money for various organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of children globally and locally.

An all women’s paddle named after the word for women in Hawaiian, Wahine (wä-ˈhē-nē), the money will go to support women in crisis.

Fred Doss, co-president of Paddlers, said, “It was interesting—we saw there was great enthusiasm within the world of women for paddling, so we thought it would be great to build an event specifically for women.”

Women are also enthusiastic about the selected beneficiary of the Wahine Paddle. “I talked to a lot of the women who are participating in this and they really support the cause of the Retreat," he said.

The Retreat's executive director Jeffrey Friedman said, “The Paddlers for Humanity are an incredible group who have been supporting The Retreat for several years.”

“The so much. Our phones have been ringing off the hook," Freidman said of the .

This year the paddle's funds will help out with parenting classes at The Retreat. The classes teach a variety of parenting methods including teaching children how to cope with stress or handle going to a new school. Friedman said it “focuses on the growth and development of the children.”

The Wahine Paddle will be held in the Napeague Bay starting at in Amagansett on Sunday at 1 p.m. Paddlers can use stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes or any other paddle devices on this three-mile long course.

Each paddler must raise or contribute $250 to participate, or if they are under the age of 18, they must raise or contribute $125.

There will be no winners or losers in the paddle, but there will be a celebration at Lazy Point after the paddle from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Paddlers for Humanity will hold two other events over the summer with funds going to other local causes; A three-person three mile team relay stand-up paddle will be held on Fort Pond Bay, starting from Eddie Ecker County Park, on July 31, and an 18-mile open-ocean paddle from Montauk to Block Island on Aug. 27.