St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Sailing for Hope Regatta

Sailors from all over the mid south will gather in Grand Rivers KY on June 7-8 for the third annual Sailing for Hope Regatta to benefit St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Sailing for Hope weekend begins Friday June 7 with late registration and a pre race beach party. Saturday June 8th will find us out on beautiful Kentucky Lake, the largest manmade lake in the US east of the Mississippi River, battling in a PHRF distance race of approximately 30 nautical miles

In addition to the customary JAM-A, JAM-B, and Spinnaker class, we are introducing a new cruising class for beginner racers, who just want to get out there, round the buoys and see what a regatta is all about.

Awards will be given in all classes during Saturday night’s dinner / auction which will feature prints by Outside Images Nautical Photography, Leighton O’Connor, and Daniel Forster.

The 2013 Sailing for Hope T shirts will feature St Jude patient Ashley’s painting and slogan “I Refuse to Sink.”

Ashley 14 was diagnosed with severe Aplastic Anemia in March of 2012. After 13 surgeries in 2 months a bone marrow transplant and chemo; she contracted Steven Johnsons Disease right before being able to go home. This is when Ashley painted her picture: I refuse to sink! It now hangs in the hospital’s Teen Art Gallery and graces the backs of the 2013 Sailing for Hope T shirt.

Watch for sailors at other events around the country wearing these amazing shirts because, like Ashley, sailors are defiant, resilient souls who refuse to give up easy, who simply just “Refuse to Sink!”

For more information and to see a list of our terrific sponsors: http://sailingforhope.com

CONTACT: Elizabeth Owens, elizabeth.owens@stjude.org