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PALMETTOPRIDE AWARDS KAYAK TO MILL RACE RAPIDS VOLUNTEER

New Waterways Campaign Reports Cleanup Statistics

Columbia, SC – PalmettoPride, your anti-litter and beautification organization, presented a new Confluence kayak to one of its 50 volunteers from last week's Mill Race Rapids cleanup today at their office in Columbia.  Odes Brinkman's name was drawn from all the volunteers who participated in the 3 Days for 3 Rivers event last weekend. 

Thursday, May 31 marked PalmettoPride's first solo cleanup event.  The organization has worked with groups all over the state on other cleanups, such as Lake Conestee Foundation in Greenville.  50 volunteers joined the organization at 8:30 and worked for several hours collecting over 1,000 pounds of trash from the riverbanks of the Saluda River. 

Brinkman, who volunteered along with other members of the Filipino-American Association of Greater Columbia, participated in the Thursday, May 31, 2007, cleanup of the Mill Race Rapids. 

“I didn't realize it could be so much fun.  It's contagious and I made so many new friends,” said Brinkman on participating in the cleanup.  “I will be back to help with cleanup events again.”

“I'm so happy Odes' name was drawn for the kayak,” said Debbie Cohea, program coordinator for PalmettoPride.  “After talking with her, I learned that she lives on the river and has been picking up trash from its banks for years.  It's nice to be able to say ‘thank you' with a new kayak.”

PalmettoPride's Mill Race Rapids Cleanup was part of the 3 Days for 3 Rivers event, celebrating the Midlands three rivers – Saluda, Broad and Congaree.  With the 2007 World Youth Kayaking Championship coming to the Saluda in July, the time to converge on the rivers and cleanup litter couldn't have been more appropriate. 

Partners in the 3 Days for 3 Rivers event include City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, American Rivers, SC Department of Natural Resources Scenic River Program, Coastal Conservation League, Lower Saluda Scenic River Advisory Council and PalmettoPride.

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