Twin Cities Sailors Raise Sails To Help Find A Cure

Participants raised $78,000 for patient services and blood cancer research by
 sailing in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2009 Leukemia Cup Regatta.

Golden Valley, MN (October 15, 2009)-  250 local sailors joined forces September 18 - 20 at the Leukemia Cup Regatta on White Bear Lake, raising $78,000 to advance the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS): Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  The Leukemia Cup Regatta is an annual fundraising event that gives sailors an opportunity to give back to the community while doing something they love - sailing.  Since the Regatta's inception in 2004, Minnesota sailors have raised $416,000.    

Docked at White Bear Boat Works, the sixth annual Leukemia Cup Regatta was co-hosted by Black Bear Yacht Racing Association and White Bear Yacht Club.  During the three day event, skippers and their crew not only competed in a series of races, but also enjoyed a cocktail reception, bidding on silent auction items, dinner provided by Olive Garden, and live music on the boardwalk.  The Regatta concluded with an awards ceremony in which top fundraisers and sailors were recognized. 
 
White Bear Lake sailor Bud Markhart and thirteen-year-old Jake McLean of Stillwater were catalysts for the events success, as sailors rallied behind the honorees to raise funds.  Bud, a professor of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a blood cancer, and melanoma, a skin cancer in July of 2008.  Jake, son of Karen and Steve McLean was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in February 2002.   
 
Sailors also competed for The Leukemia Cup and coveted Leukemia Cup Challenge.  The Leukemia Cup, an award given to the top fundraising boat, was awarded to the crew of Echo Too.  Skippered by Lisa Mathewson, Echo Too raised over $15,000 to claim the Leukemia Cup for the fifth consecutive year.  Runners up for the Leukemia Cup were LCYC, skippered by Maggie Simons, and Voodoo Chile, skippered by Lawrie Yearsley.  Winning this year's Leukemia Cup Challenge was Team Cloned Voodoo Beans.  The three boats that comprised Cloned Voodoo Beans included Cyclone, skippered by Rudy Rudenberg, Echo Too, skippered by Brian Mathewson, and Type A, skippered by Jason Brown.

The success experienced during this year's Regatta would not have been possible without the help and support of its participants.  Thank you sailors, volunteers, donors, members of the planning committee (Jay Bibelheimer, Jason and Angie Brown, Jim Dugelman, Lisa Mathewson, Bob and Toni Quirk, Phil Soucheray, Sean and Melissa Wagner, and Susan Yearsley), members of the silent auction committee (Marcia Dahlquist, Nicki Hyser, Rebecca Shavlik, and Angell Zschokke), and sponsors (Larry Klopp & Associates, Shavlik Technologies, Kowalski's Markets, Jimmy's Food & Drink, White Bear Boat Works, Olive Garden of Maplewood, Best Buy of Eagan, Rudy's Redeye Grill and Grandma's Bakery).  LLS is grateful to have such wonderful support! 

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyŽ (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer.  The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  LLS funds lifesaving research around the world and provides free information and support services. 

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.