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The Black Canyon of the Bear Whitewater Festival takes the plunge and donates proceeds to outdoor adventure therapy program for young adults with cancer


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Denver, CO— April 22, 2013-FIRST DESCENTS, a Denver-based non-profit providing free outdoor adventures to young adults fighting and surviving cancer partnered with The Black Canyon of the Bear Whitewater Festival. The whitewater festival is held every April just outside Grace, Idaho and this year the festival will be on April 27th. The Black Canyon of The Bear River is a Class IV whitewater run, with one Class V rapid near the end of the seven mile stretch. The river only runs a few times per year due to a hydropower dam that regulates flow throughout the summer. Fortunately for boaters, the American Whitewater Association and Pacificorp Power have worked out an agreement that will secure a series of scheduled whitewater releases each spring.

Festivities will include a down-river race of the seven miles of whitewater, food, live music, and many raffle prizes. Raffle prizes include a free week-long kayaking expedition in Ecuador from Small World Adventures, a Yakima Rack, a Suunto Core watch and items from Goal Zero, Jackson Kayak, Kokotat, NRS, Astral and more. Plus festival organizers have secured a matching donation from Earthfax Engineering from Salt Lake City that will double donated funds up to $2,500.

“We host this festival to bring the paddling community together, have a great time, raise money for a young adults who have cancer and help them get outdoors and enjoy our great sport,” says Bryson White, one of the festival organizers.

If you are interested in attending the Black Canyon of the Bear Whitewater Festival go here to learn more and to learn more about FIRST DESENTS visit www.FirstDescents.org.

FIRST DESCENTS is a non-profit organization offering young adults with cancer a free week-long outdoor adventure experience designed to empower them to climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same. www.FirstDescents.org