Toby Stigdon in the last quarter-mile of paddling as he approaches the end of the 73-mile Kayaking for Cancer paddle.
Photo provided
Toby Stigdon of Columbus last year paddled his way through a 74-mile kayak trip that raised nearly $28,000 for cancer charities. Turns out he was just getting warmed up.
Stigdon, as The Republic’s Jana Wiersema reported, has a new goal: “he plans to traverse the entire length of the East Fork White River from Columbus to Petersburg, Ind., with the trip taking place from Sept. 1 to Sept. 8.” That’s a journey of about 200 miles.
This is impressive by itself, but it’s something altogether more when you learn Stigdon was diagnosed in May 2021 with poorly differentiated thyroid cancer, which he says is stable under treatment but incurable.
“It’s not about me,” Stigdon told Wiersema. “…This is about helping cancer patients in the future. That’s what I want to do.”
Stigdon hopes to double the amount he raised last year. If you’re able, you can pitch in on his Facebook page or join one of several fundraising events planned in the months ahead. We wish him well.
Book it: Hope Library’s 25th
We have the terrific public servants and an ever-expanding range of resources provided by the Bartholomew County Public Library, not the least of which is the Hope Branch.
Hope has had a library in some form or another for close to a century, though during some of that time it may have been in someone’s home or business, as The Republic’s Mark Webber wrote.
The branch as it exists today, serving residents in Hope as well as Flat Rock and Haw Creek townships and other areas, will celebrate its 25th birthday at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, inside the library at 635 Harrison St.
And, in keeping with the library’s custom and mission, all are welcome.
Regular users of the public library system know its value to the community and its many sometimes surprising offerings, which extend far beyond books. If you haven’t been in a while, we can’t think of a better time to drop by and check it out.
Young designers on exhibit
Columbus is a dynamic community in large part because of the many creative and inspiring activities available to young people.
The Republic’s Brian Blair wrote about one such offering recently — a design camp put on by Exhibit Columbus and Foundation for Youth at the Columbus Youth Camp.
Students from middle to high school learned some basics about architecture, art and design and had some summer camp fun. The students also designed a wayfinding beacon that will point Exhibit Columbus visitors to the public works being developed under the direction of world-renowned designers.
“Their finalized creation,” Blair wrote of the campers, “constructed partly with swimming pool noodles, will be on display at 411 Gallery on Sixth Street during the exhibition” starting in less than two months, on Aug. 25.
Exhibit Columbus planners have been keen to stress the theme of this year’s event — “Public by Design” — means to involve community members of all ages and backgrounds in public art installations that will be unveiled around the city. And in this instance, the kids of Columbus are quite literally showing the way.
