2009 Kiteboarder Crossing (Fundraising til April 30th, 2009)

2009 Kiteboarder Crossing (Fundraising til April 30th, 2009)
Motivation by Kiting, Inspire through Action

Make a Contribution

The 2009 Leukemia Cup Regatta is a series of adrenaline infused sailing races that take place at yacht clubs throughout the United States. This Regatta brings sailors, spectators and non-sailors together through competition to raise money to fight leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers.

I am participating as a fundraiser in the 14th annual Leukemia Cup Regatta in New Orleans, Louisiana. The New Orleans Leukemia Cup Regatta took place the weekends of March 21st-22nd and 28th-29th, 2009. I highlighted one of these exciting race weekends by kiteboarding across Lake Pontchartrain, approximately 24 miles from the Northshore to the Southshore. For this particular regatta and nationally, I have been recognized as the first kiteboarder to participate in the Leukemia Cup Regatta. As a Kiteboarder it was my goal to raise $10,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I will continue to fundraise through APRIL 30th, 2009. I kiteboarded across Lake Pontchartrain in an attempt to raise optimistic awareness and motivate individuals, groups, organizations, and companies to financially contribute to my fundraising efforts this Spring. As a participant in the Leukemia Cup Regatta, this has become an opportunity to create awareness, complete a fundraising goal, cross a lake, and support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission to conquer blood cancers.

I am promoting and fundraising in honor of my father, Terry Stuckey. In the fall of 1995, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I witnessed my dad courageously battle this devastating disease for months at a time, until Leukemia won by attrition late in the summer of 1997. He was 43 years old. His body gave up, however, he never let go of his charismatic spirit.

Sunday, March 22nd I KITEBOARDED across Lake Pontchartrain. I have accomplished my promise, the time has come, CONTRIBUTE YOUR DONATION TODAY. Fundraising effective through APRIL 30, 2009!

Thank you to the following companies for contributing products to the auction parties: Real Kiteboarding, Liquid Force Kiteboarding, Sanuk, Jean Therapy, and Republic Distribution, Hipstix & Rock-n-Sake and many more....

Thank You! to my crew for volunteering their time: Judson Wheeler, Steve "Happy" Acheson, and Trevor Wakeley. These guys deserve a big thanks for chasing me down in rough conditions.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the worldâ€™s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Today, more than 823,000 Americans are battling blood cancers. Quick facts about Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) (as stated from LLS website):

"About 13,290 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with AML in 2008. The chance of getting AML increases with age. However, children and adults of any age can develop AML. 1 in 5 children with Leukemia has AML. The goal of treatment for AML is to bring about a remission or to cure the disease.

The number of patients with AML who enter remission, stay in remission for years or are cured, has increased significantly over the past 30 years.

AML starts with a change to the single cell in the bone marrow. With AML, the Leukemia cells are referred to as blast cells. Medical researchers are working to better understand the cell changes that lead to AML."

If not detected quickly, this cancer attacks white blood cells with dramatic ferocity. The body becomes weak, flu like symptoms persist, and the immune system deteriorates. Sadly enough in 2009, AML is considered, "...a potentially curable disease; but only a minority of patients are cured with current therapy."

Please make a donation to support my participation in the 2009 Leukemia Cup Regatta. By doing so, weâ€™ll both be supporting researchers and helping save lives.

Thanks for your support!

Stuckey