“Floating for a cause and paddling with purpose!” is the rallying cry of the Lansing Lady Paddlers, a group of 22 women participating in the New River Expedition, a paddling adventure and peer-to-peer fundraising event that gives paddlers a way to protect the New River watershed to celebrate the 50th birthday of the New River Conservancy (NRC). Marketing Director for NRC, Lisa Stansell Galitz says “We are thrilled at the response of the watershed community for the New River Expedition. The Expedition seeks to honor past expeditions of the National Committee for the New River (now NRC), highlight our work and connect more people to the New River. The Expedition runs through October with funds raised benefiting NRC.”
Ann Rose, of Rose Mountain Farm in Lansing, North Carolina, and also of River Warrior fame, jumped on the chance to paddle the New with others and raise money for the NRC and invited the community to join her. Rose, who kayaked from Lansing, NC to the Gulf of Mexico last year, has been on the New River this year and was shocked at the amount of trees that have disappeared from the banks since Helene. “It is the new New River. There is so much more sun on the water now. We’ll need to replant the banks to get some shade over the water for the trout and hellbenders.”
Of the response to her Expedition, Rose says “It snowballed really. I didn’t plan quite all of this. We have 22 people now and I love it. Let it snowball! I’d love to have 30 people on the trip! The response has been so amazing, I decided to do three other dates of paddling through the summer months to raise money for other area nonprofits.”
The plan for the Lansing Lady Paddlers is to paddle 10 miles of the North Fork on June 21 – 22, and camp under the stars halfway through the 2-day trip. Rose has enlisted a small army of partners to help facilitate this trip in order to keep the boats light and the trip easy for those not used to being Huck Finn on the river.
RiverGirl Fishing Co has generously volunteered shuttle services both Saturday and Sunday. Jeremy Bollman, owner of Hatchet West, will be providing Stick Boy pastries and Hatchet Coffee for the launch on Saturday. A BBQ dinner on the banks of the New River is also in the works. For the overnight camping, Rose is partnering with Wild Haven Sanctuary, an organization founded by Trish McCall that helps trauma and chronic pain survivors heal. Wild Haven is situated at the confluence of Helton Creek and the New River. Sunday breakfast and coffee will be provided by Shelby Tramel, owner of Old Orchard Creek.
Rose says “Our goal is to raise $5,000 for the New River Conservancy- it is a big goal but we feel this amazing group of ladies can do it! We are encouraging each paddler to try to raise $250.”
Shalamar Blevins, from Ashe High Country Realty, and one of the Lansing Lady Paddlers says “We’re challenging local businesses to create their own teams for the New River Expedition to raise money for the New River Conservancy. This organization is so vital to the restoration of our wonderful New River that was hit hard by Helene.” Blevins, a native Ashe Countian raised on the New, notes “It’s more than a cause—it’s personal. I want future generations to love and explore this river the way I always have.”
To sponsor the Lansing Lady Paddlers or any other team on the New River Expedition, or join and create your own expedition, visit https://www.mightycause.com/event/Nrx2025. NRC Staff are participating in their own Expeditions and are listed on the leaderboard.
The New River Conservancy organization has worked every day since the early 1970’s to protect the woods, waters and wildlife of the iconic New River and its watershed. NRC is a 501©3 nonprofit. Donations are welcome and tax deductible. For more information, please visit their website at newriverconservancy.org, or any of their social media pages.
Photo: (L-R) Kylie Rose Josler, Shalamar Blevins and Ann Rose on the North Fork of the New River scouting a take out location for the Lansing Lady Paddlers Expedition.
