With 67 boats and 350 registered participants, Wednesday’s 19th annual Lake St. Clair Fun Run raised $37,000 for Special Olympics Michigan, according to organizers Ann and Dennis Plegue and Ann’s brother, Wayne Schaldenbrand of Sunsation Boats in Algonac, Mich.

The boats in the Lake St. Clair Fun Run stopped at Browns Waterfront Bar in Harsens Island. Photo courtesy Chip Miller/Miller Marina

With backing from the Lake St. Clair Powerboat Club and two longtime Special Olympics supporters—the Water Warriors, which is hosting its 25th annual PWC endurance ride in July, and the Wertz Warriors, which will hold its 35th annual snowmobile endurance ride next January—the fun run left MacRay Harbor and visited three other locations (Tin Fish, Browns and North Channel Yacht Club) before returning to MacRay.

“The Lake St. Clair Fun Run lived up to its name as usual,” said Schaldenbrand, who did the event with his family and some Sunsation employees in the company’s new demo model, its first Platinum Edition 34 CCX. “The event was filled with awesome people, all with a focus toward helping those less fortunate.

“It was fun to show off the new boat and see several other Sunsations owners involved,” added Schaldenbrand, who participates annually in the Wertz Warriors weeklong endurance snowmobile ride throughout Northern Michigan. “The new Platinum Edition 34 CCX was a solid hit at the docks. Thanks to 14 people on board and the loud stereo, it received a lot of attention throughout the day. One of the major attractions about the boat as the new Mercury Racing Verado 400R engines providing the power.”

Check out the slideshow above for more images of the annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Michigan.

According to Ann Plegue, the successful and safe event pushed the annual fundraiser beyond the $300,000 mark in terms on contributions over the past 19 years to Special Olympics.

“We’d like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s run, especially those who participate year after year,” Ann said. “And a huge thank you goes out to all of our sponsors who have helped raise the bar on our fundraising totals. Of course we can’t thank our volunteers enough for everything they have done to help make this event run smooth.”

Ann also said to mark your calendars for the 2016 Lake St. Clair Fun Run on Wednesday, June 29.

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