On Saturday, June 21 & Sunday June 22, 2014 SU4C hosted the 4th annual regatta under the ‘big top’ at Mystic Shipyard & the CAM-X - for your hangover blues. 

The regatta brought more than 300 people together for an amazing cause! A special day for The Sunshine Kids complete with pirates; painting courtesy of Florence Groswold Museum and music courtesy of String Theory School of Music. This day would be impossible without the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers whose time, spirit and energy make this event a start-to-summer highlight!

Many thanks to over 35 volunteers from our community, especially those from the USS Dallas and The France Foundation who truly made this event happen. Special thanks to: Mystic Shipyard for the beautiful location and awesome staff; Mudheads for running a great race; Argia for hosting The Sunshine Kids; Rock N’ Soul Revue who kept us dancing; April Brunelle for brilliant balloon creations; Dogwatch Café for fabulous food and to all those who gave amazing auction items! Plus our generous sponsors: Holmgren Subaru, Noank Village Boatyard, Dime Bank, Merill Lynch, CMB, F&F Distributors; Mystic Pizza; Drawbridge Ice Cream; Mohegan Sun and HUGE thanks to all CAM-X vendors and The Chris Leigh Band and thank you Josie Kapral for photographs capturing the beauty of the day! More photos can be seen on our slideshow page.

The money raised through this event will be used to support the SU4C mission.

Hope to see everyone again in 2015!

It was late January in 2004 and my wife and I were celebrating her 50th birthday in my new oncologist’s office. During a routine physical myprimary care physician discovered that my WBC’s (white blood cell) were elevated. So off to the oncologist where I learned that I had leukemia, more specifically, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. As scary as it was, I supposethat if you’re diagnosed with leukemia, “CLL” is the best one to have, if I may say that. It took about six months for me to get a handle on it.

Then in February 2010 on the advice of both my primary care physician and my oncologist, I was having an endoscopy because of difficulty swallowing. Not to worry I was told he’ll scope you and dilate your esophagus and you’ll be better than new. Well so much for that procedure. When I woke up and asked how everything went there was silence. My wife was called and we were to meet with the doctor in his office. He entered the office, greeted us, and began to explain that he found a tumor. “Well why didn’t you cut it out while you were down there?” I asked him. Try now to understand that I was a man who thought that leukemia was like a bad caseof the flu six years ago. So just like that, I thought that tumors were just removed with a scalpel, laser beam, whatever. Now I’m hearing, “I’m sorry, it’s cancer.” Cancer……oh no, not me, no way! 

SU4C’s mission statement really says it all. “SU4C is a non profit organization dedicated to funding research in the education, prevention, and cure for all types of cancer through the art and enjoyment of sailing.” To fulfill these goals, SU4C will partner with local yacht clubs, sailing clubs and other like minded organizations to host regattas. The aim is to have these regattas appeal to everyone and not just the racing enthusiast. In addition to the traditional racing format with various classes and types of boats, there will also be a “Picnic Fleet”. This class of sailors will be comprised primarily of the sailors who have no interest in competitive sailing. The skippers in this class will be encouraged to take on board cancer patients and family members for a relaxing time watching the race. These passengers should be required to meet the physical challenges an afternoon on a boat will require.

Funds will be raised by traditional fundraising methods by sailors with family members, friends, and local businesses. Donations will not be limited to just money but items of value that may be auctioned off at the Post Regatta Shore Party. Boats will be encouraged to sail with their crew as a “team” in honor of someone who has or had cancer.

Awards will be given to sailors in two categories; one, the traditional manner for the top three finishers in each class raced, and two, the top three fundraisers. The awards will be given in a ceremony at the Post Regatta Shore Party. In addition to the awards the party will also hold live and silent auctions, serve food and beverages, music and have an array of information made available to the attendants regarding education, prevention and cures for cancer.

The majority of the funds raised will be distributed to the Stand Up 2 Cancer Organization and the Cancer Project. Remaining funds will be distributed to organizations at the discretion of the SU4C Board of Directors which best exemplify the Mission Statement.