When racing brings help and hope

What began with one event in 1988 to now 45 events throughout North America in 2019, the Leukemia Cup Regatta is a series of sailing events that combines the joy of boating with the important task of raising money to fight leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers.

Since its inception, the Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised millions of dollars for lifesaving research and patient services, bringing help and hope to patients and their families.

The top fundraising Leukemia Cup Regatta participants from throughout North America in 2019 gathered for the 2019 Leukemia Cup Regatta Fantasy Sail on December 6 and 7 in Fort Myers, Florida.

The event featured:
• Presentations about teamwork on and off the water by Offshore Sailing School President Doris Colgate, National Sailing Hall of Famer and Offshore Sailing School CEO Steve Colgate, and Linda Lindquist-Bishop of the all-women’s America3 team from the America’ Cup. Doris and Steve Colgate, and Linda Lindquist-Bishop are Leukemia Cup Regatta national celebrity ambassadors.
• The annual Leukemia Cup Fantasy Sail Challenge race on Offshore Sailing School’s Colgate 26 boats. The winners of the Fantasy Sail Challenge were out of the Southern Yacht Club: Commodore Guy Brierre, Robert and Jenny Kottler, and Jean-Preston Lucius.
• A salute to Doris and Steve Colgate by Linda Lindquist Bishop for Offshore Sailing School’s long-time national support of the Leukemia Cup Regatta campaign. Offshore Sailing School has raised over $175,000 in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
• An announcement by U.S Sailing that members who participate in Leukemia Cups and purchase a new or renewal of a membership through the Leukemia Cup Regatta campaign will have $10 added to their Leukemia Cup online fundraising pages.

Top fundraising campaign:
The Jobson Cup was presented to the San Francisco Leukemia Cup Regatta for the thirteenth straight year. Named for National Leukemia Cup Regatta Chairman Emeritus Gary Jobson, a long-time ambassador for the sport of sailing and a lymphoma survivor who championed the growth of the Leukemia Cup, the presentation was preceded by remarks by Opti National qualifier and leukemia survivor Rhett Krawitt from the San Francisco Yacht Club and his sister Annesley.

Top five national individual fundraisers:
1. Tracy Howard, Columbia Yacht Club, Chicago, IL.
2. Diane Simon, Fishing Bay Yacht Club, Deltaville, VA.
3. Ted Hannig, Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, CA.
4. Robert Kottler, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA.
5. John McNeill, Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, CA.

Top five national team fundraisers:
1. Team Zephyr – David Erwin, and Robert and Jenny Kottler, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA.
2. My Girl – Donald and Margaret Steiner, New York Yacht Club, Newport, RI.
3. Compass Self Storage – Tom Purdy, Cleveland Yachting Club, Rocky River, OH.
4. Team Tartan – Chris and Gary McGraw, Washington Sailing Marina, Alexandria, VA.
5. Team Tenacious – Ted and Connie O’Connor, Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Corona Del Mar, CA.

As the top national fundraising team, Team Zephyr received the Robert Edward Maher Memorial Trophy, named for an honorary lifetime member and respected avid sailor out of the Southern Yacht Club.

Maher, who passed away on September 11, 2018 after a very long battle against multiple myeloma, was a dedicated Leukemia Cup Regatta supporter who was the epitome of teamwork, whether on the water or in fundraising. When Maher wasn’t sailing, he could be found taking pictures of sailing races.

For more information, visit www.leukemiacup.org

Source: Marty Siederer, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society