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Boat and Float: Clean Up, Float On and Enjoy the New River on Saturday, July 23

By Jessica Lyons

The folks at New River Conservancy invite you to this year’s Boat and Float event, an all-day party on and off the water that aims to clean up the New River and hit an ambitious $10,000 fundraising goal.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 23 at Riverside Canoe in Crumpler, North Carolina.

Participants will spend two to three hours floating on the New River to help clean up, and can either bring their own boat or they can reserve one from the New River Conservancy. The event has previously cleaned 143,655 pounds of trash and 2,514 tires from the North Carolina New River cleanup.

“The event used to be called the paddle-a-thon, but we revamped it this year to be the Boat & Float event,” Chelsea Blount, River Builder Coordinator said. “This event specifically will help with the water shed and river cleanup for the area.”

Registration for the cleanup will begin at 10 a.m. that day and shuttles will then take the floaters to their boats at 11:30 a.m. to start the cleanup. Boaters will clean up the four-mile stretch of river while paddling during the day’s Party BARge, which will be followed by a costume party.

Whether you can be at the cleanup or not, everyone is encouraged to attend the after party to help finish the fundraising. Currently, the New River Conservancy has raised just over $6,000 of their $10,000 goal for the event. The after party will be held at Boondocks Brewing Tap Room and Restaurant in West Jefferson from 4-7 p.m. with music performed by Andy Ferrell.

“The after party is a celebration for everyone who helped out for the day and to help us finish our fundraising goal for the event,” Blount said. “Attendees are encouraged to make a $10 donation at the door to attend the event.”

Anyone can donate to the event by visiting the Crowdrise page or by donating in person at the event’s after party.

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