The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic,

Classic Relay and Wiseman's Dash 2020

24th & 25th October 2020

COVID-19 Emergency

Letter to Paddlers and Supporters

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The Race Committee of the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association met via Zoom last week to discuss what the possibilities were of conducting this iconic event on the 24th/25th October.
We want to keep paddlers and supporters updated as to our thinking in these uncertain times and that we will carefully consider if it is possible to stage this year’s event.
We want to give paddlers a goal to aim for later this year. Paddling is one of the few sports at the moment where we can at least get out on the water and exercise.
The event will only be possible if social distancing restrictions are lifted and that all safety considerations can be met for paddlers, organisers and volunteers.
The organisation of a 111km, overnight paddle with its 20+ safety checkpoints and associated support efforts from First Aid, NSW State Emergency Services, WICEN Communications Network and NSW Marine Rescue are enormous. 
On the weekend of the Classic we have nearly 400 volunteers supporting you.
The planning for the 2020 event basically started when the last paddler in the 2019 event crossed the finishing line at Deerubbun Reserve, Mooney Mooney.
A lot of that planning is in train right now, but we are understandably finding everything we do is conditional upon the current regulations being lifted or at least significantly eased.
The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association is a very small charitable organisation with limited people and financial resources. What we charge in entry fees hopefully covers the cost of running the event and the vast majority of the funds that paddlers raise each year go to our nominated medically based charity (The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation) with smaller donations going to the support organisations whose efforts allow us to provide the vast safety network that surrounds the event.
We are not in a position to outlay substantial funds for this year’s event and then find that we are unable to go ahead.
In the near future we are going to have to “make a call” as to whether we proceed with
this year’s event or make a decision to cancel.

We Need You More Than Ever Before !!!

We want to know what level of support we are likely to receive if we decide to go ahead. It would be financially irresponsible and our long-term viability would be at risk for us to go ahead and then find that we do not have sufficient paddler support to cover our costs.
Please respond to the survey included in our email to paddlers and supporters, 
If you want to have your say on anything that we've raised above please contact us at entries@canoeclassic.asn.au.
We have scheduled another Zoom meeting for 21st May, so your prompt response would be greatly appreciated.
 
Stay safe and healthy and keep paddling,
 
Claire Shanahan
President
Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association Inc.
20th April 2020

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic is a fun paddle with a serious purpose. 

Each year participants paddle overnight to raise money for the Arrow, The Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation to give hope to people suffering from diseases treatable by bone marrow and adult stem cell transplants. Your sponsorship will support this work. Sponsor by paddler by responding to their personalised link that they send you or on the sponsorship tab at registration.canoeclassic.asn.au.

Our Charities

Since 1994, when our association with Arrow, The Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation began, paddlers in the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic have donated almost $4 million million for leukaemia research and patient support services.

The HCC also contributes funds to a number of supporting charitable community organisations.