C-Falls family kayaks around Flathead Lake for Special Olympics

Brian McGough of Columbia Falls really knows Flathead Lake.

For the third year in a row he kayaked around the entire lake for the “Flathead Lake Challenge,” a fundraiser for Special Olympics Montana.

The idea for the Flathead Lake Challenge came through McGough’s involvement in other olympics events. McGough has been involved with the Penguin Plunges, another olympics fundraising event, since 2006, and after first learning about it, wanted to do more.

“I have a younger son with special needs, and that brought it close to home,” he said.

McGough departed on Aug. 1, from a public beach in Somers Bay and paddled south, stopping at West Shore State Park. From West Shore, McGough paddled to Big Arm State Park on Tuesday. Wednesday’s checkpoint was Yellow Bay State Park. Thursday he departed Yellow Bay and paddled to Wayfarer’s State park. He returned Friday back to Somers Bay. The event is co-sponsored by Montana State Parks, which is provided camping opportunities for the kayakers.

This year, McGough was joined by his 15-year-old daughter, Sarah, a sophomore at Columbia Falls High School. McGough said Sarah is the youngest person to ever circumvent Flathead Lake by kayak.

“It’s awesome having my daughter with me,” he said on Monday after completing the first leg. Reno Kahe’e, a family friend, also participated. Special Olympics Montana is a statewide non-profit organization.

It provides year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health-related programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The olympics boasts 2,000 athletes from 65 Montana communities registered in 121 programs. Nearly 4,000 Montana volunteers help organize and host local, area, and state level competitions. The Glacier area encompasses Flathead, Lincoln, Lake and Sanders counties.

While the event is over, donations can be made now through the end of the year at: www.FirstGiving.com/mtletr/flathead-lake-challenge.

McGough will be raffling off a kayak at the end of the month. The kayak was sold at cost from Rocky Mountain Outfitters, another sponsor of the event.

Half of the cost was covered by another donor who McGough said wished to remain anonymous. Raffle ticket sales have already made up the remaining cost. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 each or 5 for $20 until the raffle by contacting McGough at (406) 471-2111 or by email at flatheadlakechallengemt@gmail.com.