Kelowna Resident Paddles 365 Kilometres for Autism Awareness in Honour of Late Cousin

Kelowna resident Kim Inglis is embarking on a heartfelt journey to raise awareness and funds for Autism Canada by paddling 365 kilometres on Okanagan Lake. Inglis was inspired by her late cousin Tyler, who tragically passed away, leaving behind a child with autism.

Tyler had a strong passion for advocating for autism awareness and fundraising. He had plans to organize a charity boxing event, but his untimely demise prevented him from fulfilling this goal. To honor Tyler’s legacy, Inglis decided to undertake the challenge of paddling to make a positive impact in the autism community.

While Inglis has been an experienced paddler for years, she dedicated time to train and prepare herself for the demanding 365-kilometre paddle across Okanagan Lake. Since the start of her campaign on March 1, Inglis has already covered over 330 kilometres, drawing inspiration from Tyler’s memory to persevere and push forward.

With a fundraising target of $25,000 for this year, Inglis has already raised approximately $23,000 towards her cause. She aims to surpass her goal to make a greater impact in supporting individuals with autism. Donations can be made through the campaign’s official page on Castanet.

Originally intended as a one-time effort, Inglis now plans to expand and enhance her initiative, “Making Waves for Autism,” in the coming years. She envisions a larger-scale event involving paddlers and rowers from across Canada, offering different distances and participation options to engage the paddling community in advocating for autism awareness.

The campaign will conclude on World Autism Acceptance Day, April 2, in Kelowna, marking a significant milestone in Inglis’s tribute to Tyler and her ongoing dedication to supporting autism awareness.