谩谩ONE VERMONT WOMAN IS PUTTING IN THE MILES THIS WEEK. TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS OUR REGION. SHE'S THE MANAGER OF AN ADAPTIVE KAYAKING PROGRAM... that's MARKING 谩谩TEN YEARS OF HELPING PEOPLE GET ACTIVE ON THE WATER. NBC 5'S JACKSON STOEVER TOOK A TRIP UP LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND HAS THAT STORY. ONE SOUTH HERO RESIDENT... IS MAKING THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME... WITH A PADDLE IN HAND... 谩谩ALL TO RAISE MONEY AND SUPPORT DISABLED KAYAKERS. <PADDLE CAM> <paddling> 谩谩FIVE DAYS. 谩谩120 MILES. <IMG贸8458> <00:01:18:04 "I think I'm ready." 00:01:19:13> THAT'S HOW LONG CATHY WEBSTER HOPES IT WILL TAKE HER...TO NAVIGATE THE CURRENTS OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN... IN HER TRUSTY KAYAK. <paddling> CATHY...A FULL-TIME PHYSICAL THERAPIST... IS 谩谩ALSO THE MANAGER OF THE ADAPTIVE KAYAKING PROGRAM... AT THE N-D-DOUBLE-A. THAT'S THE NORTHEAST DISABLED ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. HER PROGRAM GIVES FOLKS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES... A CHANCE TO GET OUT ON THE WATER. <IMG贸8454> <00:00:28:26 Cathy Webster, NDAA Adaptive Kayak Program "One of my clients said do you think I'll ever be able to kayak? She was a quadriplegic. I said...let's try!" 00:00:35:27> 谩谩AFTER A DECADE OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH PADDLING... CATHY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL...TO MARK 谩谩TEN YEARS OF BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS. <more paddling> SO ON WEDNESDAY... SHE BEGAN A 120-MILE PADDLE ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN... TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS <IMG贸8458> <00:00:08:15 "There's a south wind, about 10 miles an hour...it pushed me the whole way." 00:00:14:02> <FIRST PART OF MAP> STARTING IN BENSON...WHEN THE SUN CAME UP... SHE MADE IT TO CHIMNEY POINT BY NOON. WHERE SHE <IMG贸8459> <00:00:25:11 "Dig that paddle in a little deeper...at an angle like this." 00:00:30:10> AND A CRASH COURSE ON THE DOS AND DON'TS OF <IMG贸8459> <00:00:46:01 Jackson: "Oh we're cruising, Nate!" Cathy: "You're actually not moving at all." 00:00:51:10> CATHY SAYS HER JOURNEY IS ALSO IN MEMORY OF THE PADDLERS THAT SHE AND THE N-D-DOUBLE-A HAVE LOST ALONG THE WAY... AND HOPES IT WILL EMPOWER 谩谩OTHERS FROM 谩谩BOTH SIDES OF THE LAKE... TO JOIN HER ON HER NEXT ADVENTURE. <water moving> <SECOND PART OF MAP> FROM CHIMNEY POINT... SHE WILL CONTINUE ALONG LAKE UNFORGETTABLE VIEWS OF THE GREEN MOUNTAINS... AND THE ADIRONDACKS... BEFORE CROSSING THE NORTHERN BORDER... EVENTUALLY REACHING THE FINISH LINE IN SOUTHERN CANADA. <IMG贸8458> <00:00:19:08 Cathy Webster, NDAA Adaptive Kayak Program "There's very few boats...so I have to be careful...because there's no one out here to save me!" 00:00:23:05> BUT SHE NEEDS THERE. TO DONATE TO THE CAUSE... YOU CAN VISIT DISABLED- ATHLETICS-DOT-ORG. <00:03:39:06 Cathy Webster, NDAA Adaptive Kayak Program "Just seeing somebody come in and struggle with their mobility, get into a kayak and take off independently is what its all about, its really amazing." 00:03:51:28> CATHY IS HOPING IT'LL TAKE HER FOUR MORE DAYS TO GET TO THE END.
News We Love: 120-mile kayak trip benefits athletes with disabilities
'I think I'm ready': Cathy Webster embarks on 5-day journey to raise money for adaptive kayak program
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Updated: 5:31 PM CDT May 25, 2025
A Vermont resident is making the trip of a lifetime with a paddle in hand, all to raise money and support disabled kayakers.Five days and 120 miles.That is how long Cathy Webster hopes it will take her to navigate the currents of Lake Champlain in her trusty kayak.Webster, a full-time physical therapist, is also the manager of the adaptive kayaking program at the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association. Her program gives folks with physical disabilities a chance to get out on the water. "One of my clients said, 'Do you think I'll ever be able to kayak?' She was a quadriplegic. I said, 'Let's try,'" Webster said.After a decade of empowering people through paddling, Webster wanted to do something special to mark ten years of breaking down barriers.On Wednesday, she began a 120-mile paddle across the entirety of Lake Champlain to raise awareness and funds for her program. Starting in Benson when the sun came up, she made it to Chimney Point by noon. From Chimney Point, she will continue along Lake Champlain, taking in unforgettable views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, before crossing the northern border, eventually reaching the finish line in southern Canada.Webster said her journey is also in memory of the paddlers that she and the NDAA have lost along the way, and hopes it will empower others from both sides of the lake to join her on her next adventure.She needs your help to get there. To donate to the cause, you can visit the NDAA website."Just seeing somebody come in and struggle with their mobility, get into a kayak and take off independently, that's what it's all about," Webster said.Webster is hoping it will take her four more days to get to the end, if the skies cooperate.
A Vermont resident is making the trip of a lifetime with a paddle in hand, all to raise money and support disabled kayakers.
Five days and 120 miles.
That is how long Cathy Webster hopes it will take her to navigate the currents of Lake Champlain in her trusty kayak.
Webster, a full-time physical therapist, is also the manager of the adaptive kayaking program at the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association. Her program gives folks with physical disabilities a chance to get out on the water.
"One of my clients said, 'Do you think I'll ever be able to kayak?' She was a quadriplegic. I said, 'Let's try,'" Webster said.
After a decade of empowering people through paddling, Webster wanted to do something special to mark ten years of breaking down barriers.
On Wednesday, she began a 120-mile paddle across the entirety of Lake Champlain to raise awareness and funds for her program. Starting in Benson when the sun came up, she made it to Chimney Point by noon. From Chimney Point, she will continue along Lake Champlain, taking in unforgettable views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, before crossing the northern border, eventually reaching the finish line in southern Canada.
Webster said her journey is also in memory of the paddlers that she and the NDAA have lost along the way, and hopes it will empower others from both sides of the lake to join her on her next adventure.
She needs your help to get there. To donate to the cause, you can visit the .
"Just seeing somebody come in and struggle with their mobility, get into a kayak and take off independently, that's what it's all about," Webster said.
Webster is hoping it will take her four more days to get to the end, if the skies cooperate.
