Inclusive Sea Kayak Journey along Long Island Coast to Challenge special Athletes

Ten disabled athletes age 22 to 60 will join ten able-bodied athletes to travel 22 nautical miles by sea kayak along the Long Island coast during national non-profit World T.E.A.M. Sports' August 12-13 Coastal Team Challenge.

Created in partnership with Long Island non-profit Independent Home Living Program and national financial services company American Portfolios Financial Services Inc., the overnight journey along the island's southern coast from Westhampton Beach to Patchogue will not be easy for these developmentally and physically-disabled athletes. Rowing along the sea lane between rest stops, the athletes will undertake the many challenges of open water boating, from tides to fast-moving summer showers to wakes from passing ships. Close teamwork and cooperation between team members will help these athletes safely reach their destinations.

"I've always wanted to bring World T.E.A.M. Sports to Long Island and could not think of a more perfect outdoor inclusive challenge--a coastal team kayak adventure in its surrounding waters--with a highly regarded organization--IGHL--in which to launch this inaugural event," said Lon Dolber, Chief Executive Officer of American Portfolios Financial Services, an independent broker-dealer that is serving as the event's presenting sponsor. "I am excited at the prospect of this becoming a Long Island community tradition to be held every year," he said.

A primary sponsor of World T.E.A.M. Sports' 2009 Pacific Northwest Coastal Team Challenge that included injured Canadian and American military veterans, American Portfolios has enthusiastically supported inclusive sporting events from the Holbrook, New York non-profit. Serving as a member of World T.E.A.M. Sports' board of ...more