Fun, sun and water are all available with the opportunity to help out a good cause.

Next Saturday (Oct. 3) will be the annual Haley Mitchell Ski-A-Thon at Beaver Lake. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue through most of the day.

While admission is free, there will be donations taken for the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease. The motor neurons affect the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. It is a relatively common “rare disorder”: approximately 1 in 6,000 babies born are affected, and about 1 in 40 people are genetic carriers.

SMA affects muscles throughout the body, although the proximal muscles (those closest to the trunk of one’s body – i.e. shoulders, hips, and back) are often most severely affected. Weakness in the legs is generally greater than in the arms. Sometimes feeding and swallowing can be affected.

In addition to a wonderful afternoon of “Skiing for a Cure!” there will be a special performance by Ricky Braddy of American Idol.

All of this will take place just two miles north of Winton at Beaver Lake in Gates County. The annual event is important for Haley Mitchell and her family, but is also something that we should all support.

We encourage all those who can to go out and support the Haley Mitchell Ski-A-Thon and those who can’t to make a tax-deductible contribution which can be mailed to: Haley Mitchell Ski-A-Thon, 2048 Rivershore Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909.