Bonita Springs residents at Riverfest paddle and party for Hurricane Irma relief

Racers paddle on the Imperial River during the annual Riverfest celebration at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Event proceeds will provide Hurricane Irma aid and help fund next year's races.

More than 30 athletes raced in everything from kayaks to paddleboards on the Imperial River in Bonita Springs on Saturday, at times having to fight the current and wind.

Hurricane Irma debris, from fallen trees to household items, closed parts of the landmark waterway. But the city's residents were determined to keep tradition alive — and help hurricane victims — with the annual Riverfest celebration.

"After the hurricane, we waited for the water to recede and dry out and started doing river cleanups. Everyone came together," said Aaron Thomas, co-owner of CGT Kayaks, a canoe, kayak and standup paddleboard shop in Bonita Springs.

The annual race, which got its start in 2007, included kayak, surf ski, canoe and paddleboard races for men and women.

To keep the racers safe, organizers changed the route to head south on the river, around a buoy and back north to the dock, a total of 2 miles. 

Click here to support Bonita Springs Hurricane Relief!!!! organized by Bonita Springs Community Lions Club

Packet Casey, of Fort Lauderdale, won the men's paddleboard race. His friend, Mark Athanacio, of Bonita Springs, was right behind him. 

"He's my competition. If anyone can push me out there, it's this guy, especially since this is his territory," said Casey, 44, a South Africa native who got into paddleboarding in 2008. He started competing on the professional circuit a year later. 

Athanacio, 52, took up paddleboarding eight years ago. He lives in a small house along the Imperial River and saw firsthand what Irma did to the river.

"We have a great resource here," he said about the river. "After the hurricane, there was a lot of trash and it was pretty messy." 

But he said he is glad to be back on the river.

More:Imperial River debris, sunken boats a problem after Hurricane Irma

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Racers paddle on the Imperial River during the annual Riverfest celebration at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Event proceeds will provide Hurricane Irma aid and help fund next year's races.

After Hurricane Irma, many local businesses and residents, including some of Saturday's participants, cleaned up the waterway, which is maintained by the Imperial River Conservancy. The organization gave out prize money to race winners. 

Naples resident Donna Catron, 60, did her part in the cleanup. 

"The main thing we've found in the river is Styrofoam (from roof insulation)," said Catron, who dressed up for Saturday's race in a black-and-white tutu, red tank top and bandanna. 

"We paddle in the Imperial River all the time, so we have to clean up."  

Many community organizations and businesses helped sponsor Saturday's event, including CGT Kayaks, the Imperial River Conservancy, the Bonita Springs Community Lions Club and the city.

Proceeds from the race will benefit next year's competition, but money raised from the rubber duck race, as well as food and drink concessions, will go to Hurricane Irma relief.

Not even two hours into the event, the Lions Club had received hundreds of dollars in donations, said Riverfest founder Martha Simons, who also is the club's membership director.

Packet Casey, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, just after he won the men's paddleboard race Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, on the Imperial River in Bonita Springs. The race was part of the annual Riverfest celebration at Riverside Park. Event proceeds will provide Hurricane Irma aid and help fund next year's races.

In addition, the group set up a GoFundMe page, which had raised $350, as of Saturday afternoon, with a $2,000 goal. 

"I saw Riverfest as an opportunity to help Bonita (after the hurricane)," Simons said.

In August, the City Council decided to cut Riverfest out of the budget, but Simons said she made a deal and got the city to put in about $5,000. 

"And people are really responding to help with the relief," Simons added. "That's who we are in Bonita."  

To help, see https://www.gofundme.com/bonitaspringshurricanerelief.