Grenada Star: Kayaking Club raises Alzheimer’s Awareness

Grenadians Larry Veasey and Will Turnage (top photo) push
their way down the Yalobusha River. Four members of the
Yalobusha Area Canoe and Kayak Club took part in
Lucy’s Revenge Paddling Project. The project was a
52-mile three-day trip down the Yalobusha River from
Grenada Lake to Greenwood. It was done to raise awareness to
Alzheimer’s. The local club has been in existence since Oct. 2010
and is seeking new members.
Staff Photos/Leann McCoy

By LEANN McCOY
Staff Writer

Kayaker Keith Plunkett of Flora had two goals in mind when he and several others navigated the Yalobusha River waterway last weekend as part of the Lucy’s Revenge Paddling Project.

Those goals were to bring raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and showcase some of Mississippi’s lesser-known waterways, according to Plunkett.

Plunkett and several others kayaked the Yalobusha River during a three-day trip from Grenada Lake to Greenwood for a total of 52 miles.

The event was sponsored by Lifehelp Region 6 Mental Health Center-Garden Park Adult Day Center.

The paddling project is a tribute to Plunkett’s grandmother, Evelyn Kirk Plunkett, also known as Lucy, and the family members who cared for her. Lucy Plunkett died in 1993, but she began showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease as early as 1977.

“That’s what’s so bad about this disease,” Plunkett said. “It takes little pieces from somebody in such a slow way that you almost don’t notice it until it’s forced on you. To watch that happen over time, to someone who was as integral to my life as she was, it was tough.”

Plunkett said he began paddling across the state last July to help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association and highlight the ongoing efforts of the group and medical professionals who try to defeat the disease.

“Kayaking can be extremely difficult, and when I started, I was doing 25-30 mile treks, and I thought I was going to die,” he said. “A month later, I did 45 miles from the start of the Wolf River all the way down to Bay St. Louis.”

Those interested in learning more about Lucy’s Revenge, can look at http://www.lucysrevenge.com/.

For the Yalobusha River run, he was joined by his wife, Sharon, and 10 others for the trek. He was joined for the first day by four members of the Yalobusha Area Kayakers Club (YAK) that paddled from the lake to Holcomb. Other local members include Craig Hill, Will Turnage, and Chriis Horn.

According to Larry Veasey, a member of YAK, the local group has been in existence since June 2010. They were happy to take part in an event for such a worthy cause.

“We really enjoyed helping raise needed awareness for such a dreaded disease,” Veasey said. “We enjoyed our time going down the Yalobusha River to Holcomb.”

Last October, three members of the group took part in the Phatwater Challenge. It was a 42-mile race down the Miss. River betweem Port Gibson and Natchez. A total of 200 boats took part in the race.

“It was a blast,” Veasey said. “The Corps of Engineers stopped barge traffic down the river and it was impressive to see 200 boats competing in the race.”

The group has planned an outing at Six-Mile Lake near Avalon.

Veasey said that the group is always looking for new members.

“We are more of a group than a club,” Veasey said. “It’s a way to get out and get some exercise. We invite anyone interested to come kayak with us anytime.”

Those interested in being part of the group can contact Veasey at 417-2858. They can also look on Facebook searching for Yalobusha Area Canoe and Kayak Club. The address for Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/.

Grenada Star

Lucy's Revenge group joined on Yalobusha River by Robin Whitfield (Video)

Robin Whitfield is a paddling friend and artist in Greenwood. During our recent 3-day trip on the Yalobusha River trip she helped us shuttle vehicles from Grenada to Greenwood so they would be there for us when we arrived, and she joined us for a day and a half of paddling; one leg from Highway 8 to Malmaison ramp, and another from the mouth of the Yalobusha and Tallahatchie as they form the Yazoo, about 18 of the 52 miles. During that time, Robin and I were able to visit and talk about her life and her dedication to Mississippi rivers and the outdoors. She is one of the many wonderfully interesting personalities you meet while getting to do what we do.

It was great to meet her, and I look forward to the work we'll do together to bring awareness to Mississippi waterways through Blueway development. Toward the end of the video you'll see where she, Hart Henson, and John Coleman join us for the last three miles of our trip.

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Robin Whitfield: A Painter's Passage from Barefoot Workshops on Vimeo.

Greenwood Commonwealth: Kayak Quest



Thanks to the Greenwood Commonwealth for the coverage of the paddle on the Yalobusha River. It was a thrill to round the bend and see around 30 people with signs and balloons welcoming us to Greenwood.



Lucy's Revenge got front page treatment from the Greenwood Commonwealth in the Tuesday edition.



Garden Park Director Cyndi Bassie signs Keith Plunkett’s kayak. Plunkett lets his fellow kayakers, sponsors or anyone who’s been affected by Alzheimer’s sign his boat during his yearlong project.



Keith Plunkett, who is kayaking more than 800 miles to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association, stopped in Greenwood Monday afternoon after finishing another 52 miles. He was greeted by participants and staff from Garden Park Adult Day Center. The welcoming crew with Plunkett included, from left, Cyndi Bassie, Sidney Boldening, Earnestine Lymon, Arlean McCain, Plunkett, Milton Williams, Cherry Daves, Glenn Malone, Terry Malone, Barbara Biggers, Dorothy Glenn, Gail Fondren, Cassie James, Shirley Garrett and Sheree Sherod.



Alzheimer’s Paddler to Be on Yalobusha River for 52-Mile Trek February 19-21

Flora, MS. February 18, 2011—Keith Plunkett, Mississippi paddler and organizer of Lucy’s Revenge, will be launching the Spring/Summer Tour of Mississippi waterways this Saturday in Grenada, Mississippi. Plunkett, along with his wife Sharon, will be joined by fellow paddlers at The Bait Shop at 22106 Highway 8 in Grenada for breakfast and a pre-launch meeting at 7:00 am. The group of 13 paddlers will launch at the Grenada Lake Spillway at 9:30. The 52-mile trip down the Yalobusha River will take 3-days and 2-nights and end at the Fulton Street Bridge in downtown Greenwood at approximately 3:00 pm Monday afternoon.

The effort will continue in the Delta throughout February and March before moving into waterways in Southwest Mississippi in April. The full list of rivers and dates are available online HERE .

During the trips the Yazoo County native and Flora resident will meet with Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers in each region, and will highlight ongoing efforts by the Alzheimer’s Association and medical professionals to defeat the disease.

Plunkett will also speak with groups across the state to raise awareness and money to aid families affected by the disease with support services. He expects to complete 876 miles by the end of the project in early July. Stories, videos, and photos are posted regularly to the website, www.lucysrevenge.com .

The project is named in memory of Plunkett’s Grandmother, Lucy Plunkett, who suffered from Alzheimer’s before succumbing to the disease in 1993. The matriarch of the Plunkett family reared six children, and oversaw the upbringing of 9 grandchildren. She was a housewife and an active member of her church and the rural community of Little Yazoo in Yazoo County.

Yalobusha River: A quick look

Yalobusha from Grenada Lake to Greenwood will be one of our Delta Region trips. Plans are for sometime in February. We're shooting for President's Day Weekend. The Yalobusha joins the Tallahatchie at Greenwood to form the Yazoo. The trip will be 52 miles.