Racing to save lives
During the month of March 2009, more than 600 people participated in the fifth annual Leukemia Cup Regatta at Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda and raised $60,000 to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fund which provides lifesaving cancer research and provide services to blood cancer patients. The Isles Yacht Club and its members put forth a number of additional fund-raising events during this month which included a golf tournament, billiards tournament, mystery bike ride and tennis tournament.
“It means so much to me that these sailors are out there raising money and awareness to give help and hope to blood cancer patients,” said Dr. Chris Webb, founder and chairman of the Charlotte Harbor Leukemia Cup Regatta. “And they get to do something they enjoy while they’re making a difference in the lives of others.”
Skip Mansfield co-chaired the event.
A highlight of the Regatta was a personal visit and presentation by Gary Jobson on March 21. More than 30 years after winning the America’s Cup the pinnacle of awards for ocean sailing Jobson remains as passionate about the sport as ever. And for the past 14 years Jobson, an ESPN commentator and author, has used that passion to champion the cause of curing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma as chairman of the Leukemia Cup Regatta, a sailing fundraiser of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society .
Jobson first got involved with the Leukemia Cup Regatta in 1994, helping it grow to 42 races throughout the country and raising $27 million to help find cures and to provide information and support to patients and their families. He took his passion for sailing and turned it into something to benefit others. Nine years later he was diagnosed with lymphoma.
“I had no personal connection to the cause when I took on the Leukemia Cup Regatta,” he said in a prepared statement. “I just saw it as a way to get sailors involved in a good cause. I never dreamed that nearly a decade later I would be on the receiving end of the very research I’d been supporting all those years. It was a humbling experience.”
The Leukemia Cup Regatta is a thrilling series of sailing events that combines the joy of boating with the important task of raising money to fight leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. Since its inception, The Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised more than $27 million for research and patient services.
This year’s regatta was won by Rooster Tail, owned and skippered by David Flechsig, with the fast sloop taking its second overall Leukemia Cup. Thirty-three PHRF boats and 22 small boats participated in winds of 15-20 knots.
Each sailor in the Regatta series is eligible to win prizes including the opportunity to sail in San Francisco with world-renowned sailor and ESPN commentator Gary Jobson, national Regatta chairman, from Oct. 16-18, 2009.
“The Leukemia Cup Regatta is a great way for these boat enthusiasts to do what they love while also helping the more than 894,000 people suffering from blood cancers who need our help,” said Joanne Davis, executive director of the Southern Florida Chapter of LLS in a prepared statement.
The Isles Yacht Club, St Andrew’s South Golf Club both of Punta Gorda as well as the “Q” Billiards Lounge of Port Charlotte rolled up their collective sleeves to participate in the “race” to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
St Andrew’s South hosted a “Best Ball” golf tournament on March 7. IYC members and guests competed on women’s teams, men’s teams as well as mixed teams all for chances to win trophies and assorted prizes. There were 64 players who participated and generated $6,200 for LLS.
A two-day tennis tournament was held at the Isles Yacht Club with members and tennis players from around the area. Three women’s divisions played on Saturday March 14, and three divisions of men’s teams played on Sunday. Ninety six players all supporting the LLS raised more than $3,000.
Some Isles Yacht Club bicycle riders held a mystery bike ride through Punta Gorda on March 7 and raised $1575, and enjoyed the bright Florida sunshine and each others fellowship.
Pool players from IYC and players at the “Q” billiards lounge in Port Charlotte joined forces for a two-day pool shoot out raising an additional $600.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Leukemia Cup Regatta is one of the ways to help blood cancer patients and their families. Visit www.leukemiacup.org to learn more about the Regatta, or to learn about other LLS fundraising programs, visit www.lls.org.
Source: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society