Two women who love to kayak and the Long Island Sound recently combined both loves and raised money to clean up the water.

Organized by Save the Sound, this event called Paddle for the Sound lets participants paddle while tracking their miles and raising funds to protect one of our region’s most vital ecosystems.

Beatrice Weinberger and Jean Kostelich both from Westchester, were among the top three in fundraising. Their team raised more than $8,500.

The Sound is home to hundreds of plants, animal species and resource for swimming, fishing and boating. But pollution and climate change threaten its future.

Kostelich explains how important keeping our waterways clean.

"People really need to think about the entire watershed. All of the water from all these rivers, etc., and creeks in your backyard and that golf course here and all that stuff is ending up here," said Kostelich.

The proceeds from the event, now in its 10th year, helps restore vital ecosystems throughout the region.