74-Year Old To Kayak Around Coast Of Crete For Shriner's Hospital

EVANSTON, IL — Bob Danon has been in the art and framing business on Chicago's North Shore for nearly a quarter-century, but that chapter in his life is nearing a close as he plans a move to Lawrence, Kansas, to live near his daughter, Kate. But right after he settles into his new home it's back to business.

That business meaning paddling his kayak around the entire coast of Crete for a charity, something the 74-year-old has already done three times in recent years.

Beginning later this month, Danon will set forth on his fourth such journey. This one, titled "Paddle On 2019," is an effort to raise money for the Shriner's Hospital for Children. Anyone who knows about the good Shriner's hospitals do for families of children in need should consider donating as part of Danon's fundraiser here.

"I will be paddling down the west coast, across the south coast, up most of the east coast and then back down to the south coast, and back ½ way across Crete, to the Northwest Passage home-base in Matala," he said. "Sea kayaking has become a passion of mine since I first learned back in 1995, when I took a class with Northwest Passage."

In recent years, Danon has raised money for both the Alzheimer's Association and Pediatric Cancer Research at Children's Memorial Hospital in honor of a 13-year-old girl from Wilmette who died of brain cancer.

RELATED ON PATCH (From 2016): Evanston Business Owner Will Kayak Around Crete For Alzheimer's Research

Support has been widespread for Danon, who recently closed The Danon Gallery after nine years on Central Street in Evanston and 15 years before that in Wilmette.

When he returns back to his new home in Kansas, he'll still be doing art and framing. But instead of out of a gallery on the always-vibrant Central Street it'll be out of his new home and mainly for corporate clients, he said.