Dana Gaines will kayak around the perimeter of Island for the Gay Head Light.
Dana Gaines doesn’t just talk the talk, or even walk the walk when he says he wants to save the Gay Head Lighthouse. He heads to the sea.
On August 9 Mr. Gaines plans to kayak around the entirety of the Vineyard, weather permitting, to raise money for the relocation efforts of the lighthouse.
Mr. Gaines has circled the Island once before with two friends. He is also no stranger to kayaking for a cause, having recently raised $18,000 for diabetes research by paddling to Nantucket.
The course Mr. Gaines is taking this time around is shorter, but more difficult. His biggest concern is the wind.
“I’m going to have to paddle into the wind the last third of it at least, when I’m most tired,” he said. “So even though it’s three miles shorter, it’s going to be a harder course.” Still, he plans on trying to beat his last time.
Along with the wind, Mr. Gaines will be battling low blood sugar, as he is a type 1 diabetic. He will carry 180 ounces of a Gatorade-water mix, and will be drinking it every half hour. Grudgingly, he admits he will most likely have to stop on land at some point during the trip in order to stretch, eat solid food and check his insulin levels.
Mr. Gaines is using Indiegogo, an online fundraising website, to reach his goal of $20,000 raised for the lighthouse relocation. He hopes to reach as broad an audience as possible.