River Run draws paddlers from far and wide

More than 140 canoes and kayaks were on the Milwaukee River between Fredonia and Grafton Saturday as the third annual Mel’s River Run took to the water. The number of participants almost doubled this year, Event Manager Amy Sterkenburg said, noting that participants came from all corners of Wisconsin and at least one person was from out of state. They ranged in age from middle school students to an 80-year-old man who towed a woman along half the route after her paddle broke, she added. Heidi Thompson was joined by her dog Lolita as she paddled a kayak along the route (above right), while one man pulled a friend on an inner tube behind his kayak (top right). Tom Stanton, executive director of Mel’s Charities, addressed participants at Waubedonia Park in Fredonia before the start of the event, which ended at Veterans Park in Grafton.  Photos by Sam Arendt