For Hometown News
MARTIN COUNTY - The Indian River Relay, a team race combining swimming, running, cycling and paddle boarding to benefit Sapana Nepal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children in a rural village of Nepal, will take place Nov. 5 at the Florida Oceanographic Center located at 890 N.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart.
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and the race begins at 9 a.m. followed by an awards ceremony.
The good times continue after the race, where participants will enjoy food, beverages, beer, wine and live music by the Electric Church.
Prizes will be awarded on a team basis, with first place receiving a cash prize and one team receiving the spirit/creativity award.
The race consists of running a 3K (1.8 miles), cycling 10 miles, swimming 500 yards and paddle boarding a half-mile.
Sneakers are recommended, as runners will race along the Florida Oceanographic Center nature trails. Cyclists will leave from the parking lot of the Florida Oceanographic Center, ride over the Stuart Causeway and head North on Indian River Drive over the Jensen Beach Causeway to head back to the Florida Oceanographic Center on Hutchinson Island.
A helmet is required to participate and cyclists must provide their own bicycles.
The Indian River Lagoon of the Florida Oceanographic Center is the scene for the swimming and paddle-boarding competitions.
Participants in the water challenges are required to be able to swim. Swim shoes are recommended and paddleboards will be provided.
Sapana Nepal, founded by Nicole Zito and Rajesh Pariyar, is a grass-roots, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of Nepal, especially children, by providing educational opportunities, assisting with health care needs and protecting the rural environment.
To learn more about Sapana Nepal, visit www.SapanaNepal.org or email sapananepal@gmail.com. To register and/or sponsor the event, visit www.indianriverrelay.com. For more information, e-mail Allison@IndianRiverRelay.com or call (772) 634-7578.