Higgins- McGourty- Vaughan Fund

In memory of our dearest friends David Higggins, Alex McGourty and Adam Vaughan.

The Irish Kayaking Community is one of a kind, it is one that has had a huge impact on other communities worldwide. It is a family, a net and a group of people that are proud of the community that we have become.

Galway Fest is a weekend where our community comes together on a weekend full of laughter, whitewater and an atmosphere like no other.

We as a community have alot to be grateful for, we have been hit with some of the hardest times but for each one, we have come back even stronger.

It is for that reason that the Galway Fest 2020 organisers would like to say thank you to those who have supported us during not only the lowest of times but the highest too. We would like to encourage you all to donate to the following causes:

1. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust: an organisation which since 2013 has helped 855 families to bring their loved ones home from accidents abroad. In particular, they have helped our own Irish Kayaking community in bringing three of our own loved ones home in recent times.  We would like to say Thank You to Colin and Eithne Bell for all of your kindness in recent years and to provide funds for future families.

With these lows have come some of the most amazing highs on the water both in Ireland and internationally. We do not want to see our rivers being dammed and we as an Irish Kayaking Community would like to see more rivers flow.

That is why for our second and third organisation this year we would love to see donations going towards Free The Rivers Fund and the Balkan Rivers Defense.

2. Free The Rivers Fund originated from the minds of a group of kayakers with different struggle against hydropower projects that were threatening the free-flowing creeks and rivers of their homes. FRF gives financial support to those who spend their free time protecting rivers from being dammed.  This group has done incredible work to keep our rivers free.
https://freerivers.org/

3. The Balkan River Defense has 4 incredible goals:
1. DEFEND the remaining free flowing rivers of Europe. 
2. EXPOSE hydropower as unsustainable energy. 
3. PROVIDE alternatives through science, education, creativity + adventure sports.
4. SUPPORT a network of local river activists.
https://balkanriverdefence.org/about/

4. Irish community Rapid Response:

The Irish Community Rapid Response team was there for us when we needed it most. They worked expertly alongside the local emergency services to get the job done in the worst of conditions. The air team was able to land in a remote location where vehicles couldn’t, and their expertise, quick response time and life-saving equipment were so crucial to us in our time of need. I can’t think of a volunteer organisation more worthy of support from the Irish Kayaking community than the ICRR

Both of these organisations do incredible work to keep our rivers flowing so that not only our generation but the ones after us will continue to enjoy and love our sport the way that we do!

PLEASE DONATE AND SUPPORT TO EACH OF THESE GROUPS.

With this we want to say a MASSIVE thank you to McHale Marine (& Caravans/Cabin Sales), Co. Mayo who have so generously donated an

EXO REXY KAYAK

which any one of you could be in with the chance to win if you click donate RIGHT NOW!!

GALWAY FEST 2020 says Thank You and Free Our Rivers!!!