By Fiona Anderson

Triumph Media

When 96-year-old Hazel Amos steps into a Kumsheen Rafting Resort raft on the raging Thompson River this summer, she害羞草研究所檒l be hoping to accomplish three important feats: become a Guiness World Record holder, an inspiration for active living, and to simply have a really, really good time.

Amos is no stranger to the blue waters and rampaging rapids of the legendary Thompson, for the nonagenarian has done this at least 25 times over the years 害羞草研究所� and has become the oldest Class IV whitewater rafter in anyone害羞草研究所檚 memory.

害羞草研究所淎nybody can go to the park,害羞草研究所� Amos quips. 害羞草研究所淏ut this is way more fun.害羞草研究所�

Amos is issuing a challenge to other seniors 害羞草研究所� join her on the water on July 21 to truly experience one of British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 most iconic adventures.

害羞草研究所淚t keeps you young and don害羞草研究所檛 be afraid,害羞草研究所� Amos says. 害羞草研究所淛ust do it.害羞草研究所�

Amos is a proponent of active living, taking up swimming in her retirement, working out into her 90s and even lifting weights. Being active, she says, is one of the reasons that she害羞草研究所檚 still healthy and has been on this earth 96 years.

So, how did the former farm girl become a whitewater addict?

It害羞草研究所檚 her son害羞草研究所檚 fault.

害羞草研究所淢y brother was working up-country on the railroad in the 70s and he always saw Kumsheen rafts in the water, and thinking it was a great thing to do,害羞草研究所� recalls Margaret Connors, Hazel害羞草研究所檚 daughter and a resident of Surrey. 害羞草研究所淲e did it a few times, and then it became an annual thing 害羞草研究所� it was just a really nice way to be with family. My mother and I would drive up there and spend the day with him on the river.害羞草研究所�

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Those days added up over the years, with dozens of family members heading to Kumsheen Rafting Resort. The resort害羞草研究所檚 founder, Bernie Fandrich, was there for many of them.

That害羞草研究所檚 why, this year, Kumsheen has applied to the Guiness World Book of Records to see if Amos害羞草研究所檚 rafting trip this year can qualify for an award. He expects an answer by about September.

害羞草研究所淲e call her Grandma Hazel, the patron saint of rafting,害羞草研究所� Fandrich says. 害羞草研究所淲e know she害羞草研究所檚 the oldest person to have rafted the Thompson River. We think she might be the oldest Class IV white-water rafter in the the world!害羞草研究所�

This year, the annual event will once again be a family affair. Amos will head to Kumsheen, near Lytton, from Surrey, and be joined by her daughter and her husband, son and daughter-in-law, a nephew and two grandchildren.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 wonderful there,害羞草研究所� Amos says of rafting on the Thompson with Kumsheen. 害羞草研究所淓veryone害羞草研究所檚 friendly and very accommodating.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e done it at least 25 times and we害羞草研究所檇 love to be in the Guinness Book World Records,害羞草研究所� Amos says, 害羞草研究所渟hould it ever come to fruition.害羞草研究所�