Three Michigan men are on a journey to raise money and to raise awareness for the preservation of our Great Lakes.

Joe Lorenz, Kwin Morris, and Jeff Guy set out on a Great Lakes adventure this morning (6/18) with the goal to paddle board across Lake Erie. The trio also hope they can raise $15,000 for the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research.

Their journey began at Belle Isle State Park, home of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and will end near Sandusky, Ohio. The 80-mile trip is expected to take about 24 hours.

Last year the trio crossed Lake Superior on paddle boards and raised $15,000 for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

Lake Erie isn't notoriously as treacherous as Lake Superior, but the three men, all in their early 30s, will certainly face some challenges.

“You’ll have a current in the Detroit River of eight to ten knots, not to mention the ricochet waves from the shoreline along the river and islands in Lake Erie,” Kwin Morris said. “We’re comfortable in two to three-foot waves, but we want to avoid larger waves as much as possible.”

The trio has successfully crossed three of the five Great Lakes and has raised more than $30,000 for lake-related causes.

“Our overall goal is to help keep the Great Lakes awesome,” says Jeff Guy. “Our hope is that people will join us in donating to this great cause."

To learn more about this year's cause or to donate, visit CIGLR's website.

 

 

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