Peddle/Paddle Battle participants raise over $17,000 for medical center education programs

Dozens of bikers and kayakers — and one paddleboarder — spent the better part of their Saturday morning pedaling and paddling along several miles of Petersburg’s shoreline through the summer drizzle. But it was all for a good cause: to help raise money for Petersburg Medical Center’s continuing education program.

10-year-old Grady Walker and family friend, Mamie Nilsen, were hauling a neon green kayak up a tidal flat at Petersburg’s north shore. They were in the home stretch. On the other side of the flat, some Peddle/Paddle Battle participants were gathered inside a pavilion, getting warm and eating food. 

Still heaving the kayak up to shore, Mamie said working with the tides around Petersburg is no joke. 

“There’s one thing about getting in with the tide — instead of going against the tide — is that you got a long way to hike up,” said Mamie.

Grady said it had been a long day so far — at only 11 a.m.

“There was like this little tide rip, and there was like a big wave and I went straight into it,” said Grady. “And it like… went all over me.”

Rogue waves and long treks through the mud didn’t shake Grady’s resolve. But encounters with sea lions? That was a different story.

“It looked at us and it was… creepy,” said Grady.

“I think he was playing with us because he kept going under and then coming back up and looking at us!” said Mamie.

But the journey to Petersburg’s chilly north shore was just the tip of the iceberg for young Grady Walker. He set down to work long before his paddle touched the water, netting sponsors for the event. 

At the end of the day, Grady wasn’t the first paddler to reach the finish line. But he did come in first in a different way — by locking down the most sponsors out of anybody in his age category.

Looking no worse for wear, the day’s lone paddleboarder, Joe Viechnicki, was drying off. He said, altogether, it was a pretty good day to paddle. He only went in the drink once.

“Yeah, it was a little chilly and rainy,” said Viechnicki. “But overall, I had a lot of fun. There was one surprise seal that I went past, and no orcas or anything like that. But, yeah — a great cause and a lot is really good turnout on a rainy day!”

Many of the day’s participants are medical center employees. Like Youth Program Coordinator Katie Holmlund, who I catch just as she’s dismounting her bike. 

“[It was a] slower ride than usual, but it was okay,” said Holmlund. “I’m just supporting the medical center, as an employee and as a community member. It’s an important event and it’s super fun.”

Holmlund and other arriving cyclists dropped their kickstands and head into the shelter, where other participants are already enjoying the food and fire.

Hospital Board Secretary and paddler Marlene Cushing was inside warming up, and munching on a cookie. She was also recognized for netting one of the highest number of sponsors for the event. Cushing said, altogether, she’s really pleased with the turnout this year — especially in spite of the weather. 

“At the start, it was raining,” said Cushing. “But, you know, when you’re sitting in a kayak, that doesn’t really matter much! This goes [to] staff that wants to get continuing education, for the scholarships for high school kids that are going into the medical field, and it’s a great way to get the health care professionals we need for Petersburg.” 

Altogether, 60 people came out to pedal, paddle and run in the rain for the fundraiser. As of Monday, July 29, the medical center raised 17,040 for its continuing education program this weekend, which is more than what they raised last year.