Fourteen years ago, in 1993, the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis Maryland raised over $30,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by hosting a Regatta of 40 boats, all vying for the title of The Leukemia Cup.

Since then, this event has spread across the country, and in 2006 over $3.3 million dollars was raised by sailing enthusiasts in 47 regattas. 

 On October 12th - 14th the race begins in our beautiful Tampa Bay--The Leukemia Cup & Fall Bay Race takes place at the St. Pete Yacht Club, and one of our very own Suncoast Sailors, Lyda Brown, is crewing for the Sazerac, owned by Pete and Mary Watts.  To donate directly to this boat and crew, please visit The Watts Secure Website, and afterwards, maybe purchase one of the really cool SailFast bracelets!(Click on bracelet), and please SHARE YOUR STORY HERE!  Here's mine:

I'd challenge anyone to say they did not know at least one person who has experienced Leukemia or Lymphoma in their lives or loved ones.  I went to the secure website, hoping it was set up like the Heartwalk one, where you can actually donate in the name of someone, but alas, no.
So, I will make my dedication here:
Earlier this year, after spending the better part of the previous year nursing his wife through Leukemia, my broker Chuck Baith died.  Never a robust man, at his seventy-fifth birthday celebration in February he had wasted away to about 125 lbs at nearly six feet, yet still denied he had any major life-threatening illness.  What seemed at the time to be a sudden illness and death now, in retrospect is more obvious--as it turned out, he also had been battling the disease himself for two years.  Chuck's passing was a life-changing event for myself, his whole office, and certainly his family, and he will be sorely missed by those whose lives he touched.
With all that we are capable now with modern medicines and research I, for one, believe that his death may have been preventable--certainly he managed to help nurse his wife through, although I'm aware there are many different flavors of this disease.  I also have a nephew who contracted a very rare form when he was a child and survived, through years of treatment.
Moral of the story (and thank you for reading this far, if you have!), is that awareness is key--if anyone you know and love is diagnosed with one of these blood diseases--do your homework, read, learn, help them, and advocate for the same awareness.  Save a Life!

Be Well, Be Blessed
~Loretta