Leukemia Regatta

Photo by Arizona Yacht Club

LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA — Arizona’s biggest sailing event of the year will be at Lake Pleasant, Jan. 12-14.

AYC will host their 47^th Birthday Regatta and the eighth annual Arizona Leukemia Cup Regatta, the nation’s first Leukemia Cup Regatta of 2007.

AYC invites spectators to enjoy festivities at the lake on Jan. 13.

Sailors Set Sights On Raising Leukemia Research Money

Arizona's biggest sailing event of the year will be at Lake Pleasant, Jan. 12-14, 2007. Arizona Yacht Club will host their 47^th Birthday Regatta and the 8^th annual Arizona Leukemia Cup Regatta, the nation’s first Leukemia Cup Regatta of 2007.

The first national Leukemia Cup Regatta was held in Annapolis in 1993, and since then, the series has expanded to other sites across the county, including Arizona. Gary Jobson, world-class sailor and ESPN sailing commentator is national chairman of the event; he is also a survivor of lymphoma.

Of his own experience, Jobson says, "I want to offer you this thought: Take a deep breath every morning; say thank you for your health. The alternative is unbelievably tough.

"Twenty-five years ago, if a child came down with leukemia, he/she was given only a 5 percent chance to live," said Jobson. Today, the survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia is 85 percent.

Jobson added, "That we have come so far in so short a time is truly remarkable, but as long as leukemia remains a leading killer of children, we cannot rest."

This giant race and party kicks off with a one-day regatta on Friday to practice some tacks and then dinner and music on Friday night under the tent. Racing continues on Saturday and Sunday with 80 or more entrants, circled by a fleet of spectator boats.

Registration fees, pledges raised by crew members, and auction proceeds will go to support the mission of the Desert Mountain States Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

There will be exciting prizes for top fundraisers, and individual participants who raise $8,500 or more can also qualify for an all-expense-paid "Fantasy Sail" with Gary Jobson.

In 2006, this event raised over $66,000 to help fund national research and to serve patients and their families in Arizona and Utah.

The society encourages spectators to enjoy festivities at the lake on Jan. 13. Tickets for the dinner/auction are $15.

To obtain a fundraising packet, a list of local and national prizes, or to donate an item for the Saturday evening auction, and/or learn more about society programs, please contact Karen Chapman at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Phoenix at (602) 788-8622, x26, or e-mail Karen.Chapman@lls.org.

To learn more about the event, please contact Kyle Clark of the AYC at (480) 650-6311, or e-mail kyleaclark@yahoo.com.

More information is available at www.lls.org and www.arizonayachtclub.org.