SUP 4 Cancer is dedicated to embracing the healing power of the elements with the determination of the human spirit to impact lives affected by cancer through funding of advocacy, prevention, and survivorship programs.
What We Do
We fund programs that focus on the health and living aspect of this disease – prevention, awareness, and survivorship for those with cancer. We are excited to announce that for 2011 we will be hosting our own SUP, Surf, and Kiteboarding survivorship camps for young adults with cancer. These camps aim to foster self-confidence and strengthen survivorship through kiteboarding, standup paddling, and other outdoor adventure skills. Read more about our survivorship camps here.
It began from our personal experiences with cancer.
Professional kiteboarding instructor and SUP enthusiast Tonia Farman, watched her brother, Scott, battle Leukemia for a year before he passed away in June 2007. For those 13 months, Scott braved chemotherapy, radiation, and clinical study tests that no human being should ever have to endure. Watching this, Tonia felt helpless, but knew she had to do something.
The result was Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C), which has since evolved to Athletes for Cancer, a non-profit designed to sponsor action sport fundraising events that donate proceeds to partnering cancer charities.
In KB4C’s first event on August 25th, 2007, kiteboarders raised pledge money for one of KB4C’s partnering cancer research organizations, then competed in an 8-hour endurance kiteboarding race on the Columbia River. As many from the surf, windsurf, and paddling community attended the event, we quickly decided our next event would be SUP 4 Cancer! So in 2009 SUP 4 Cancer was born!
SUP 4 Cancer is run in conjunction with Athletes for Cancer (formerly Kiteboarding 4 Cancer) which is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, IRS tax ID #42-1737854. We fund our event and charities solely through tax-deductible contributions from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Please join us in the fight against cancer!!
KB4C and SUP4C is in memory of Scott Farman, as well as the many otherwise active and healthy individuals who fought cancer and are no longer with us.
Registration is OPEN for the 2011 3rd Annual SUP 4 Cancer in Hood River, Oregon! Events include an 8-mile downwind Endurance Race, a 4-person Relay Race, Kids Race, SUP Full Contact contest, and more. Get all the info on the website http://www.sup4cancer.org. Register for the event via https://www.athletes4cancer.org/athlete_register.cfm?
We would love to have the SUP 4 Cancer event carry our message and mission to other beaches through other SUP 4 Cancer events!!
If you are serious about putting together a SUP 4 Cancer event and raise money for the cause at your local beach, please contact me! I am happy to help and provide whatever resources I can to make it happen.
We are a 501 (c)3 non-profit, so donations are tax-deductible. Donations help us put on our survivorship camps for young adults with cancer -- an incredible program that introduces survivors to the healing power and energy of water through surfing and standup paddling!
Email me direct at tonia(at)athletes4cancer.org. Let's put all this amazing energy in the SUP world to a great cause!!