Joyce Marie Taylor
Suwannee Democrat
Mayo —
The Inaugural Suwannee River Paddle for Autism kicks off on Saturday, April 28 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Highway 51 bridge in Mayo.
Grab your kayak or canoe and come join in the fun for a three to five hour trip along the river to Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort and Campground. Your $10 donation includes entertainment at the resort and a raffle for prizes. The grand prize is a Perception Prodigy 10.0 Kayak. Donation proceeds will be provided to the University of Florida Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.
Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. It usually appears in the first three years of a child's life and is the result of a neurological disorder. Autism has no cure as yet, but research is finding better ways to understand it and help people cope with the symptoms.
Once you paddle over to Suwannee River Rendezvous you will be entertained with a live performance from 4-6 p.m. by Nashville recording artist Mary James, better known as Mean Mary. James is a Florida native and she says she could read music before reading words, even co-writing songs at age five. By the time she was seven years old, she was proficient on the guitar, banjo and violin. Since then, she has been entertaining audiences across the nation with her vocal and instrumental skills.
James has performed in more than 500 live TV shows and over 4,000 road shows. You can learn more about her at www.meanmary.com.
For more information on the 1st Annual Suwannee River Paddle, or if you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please call 386-294-3322. For boat rental or lodging, contact www.suwanneeriverrendezvous.com or call 386-294-2510. You can also log on to www.canoesuwannee.com or call 386-294-1319.
