M&S 24Hr Paddle for Cancer VAN 2017
Dear Friends of the Sea,
Cancer is a taker. It wants everything from us - our health, our confidence, our families. And it is relentless. Statistics say 1 in 3 people arm wrestle with cancer, but what about the other 2 people? Our job is to stand in the gap. Fill the void with love, compassion, and our ability to GO when our friends can't. This is what the 24 is all about.
The 24 started in the early spring of 2015, when 6 people in Seattle, led by Troy Nebeker from Monster and Sea (www.monsterandsea.com), did a relay paddle for 24 hours to raise some funds for families who were dealing with cancer. Their goal was to stuff 5 envelopes with $1000 each, and put those envelopes in the hands of people who were dealing with cancer and could use some help at a really tough time. Through generous donations and support, they blew past their goal and raised over $7000, helping 7 families in the process. Last year in 2016, the 24 grew to 7 groups of paddlers from all across the US and Canada, including a Vancouver team, and as a group we raised a whopping $50,000, helping 50 families, each from the areas the paddles took place.
This spring on Easter weekend, there will be 22 teams paddling in cities across the US and Canada. Our group of six paddlers are honoured to be paddling for 24 hours here in Vancouver as part of this amazing event, raising money to help some local Vancouver families in their fight. Where does the money go? We give out our donations in $1000 increments to a family in need and how it's used is for the family to decide. This isn’t about research, this isn’t about finding a cure, this doesn’t go to a charity. This is cash, in an envelope, put in the hands of folks who need it. It could help pay the utility bills, or buy some groceries, or maybe take the family away for a weekend to get a break from the chaos.
Thank you everyone for your generous support; know that your donations are going to a place that will make a real difference in people’s lives. Support comes in many forms, so if you are unable to make a donation, we welcome you to come out and join us for paddle around False Creek or out into English Bay. We would love to have our amazing paddling community join us! If you can't join us on the water, just come down to David Lam Park and say hi, and help us keep the stoke going for 24 hours all in an effort to raise some much needed funds.
Please join us:
Where: David Lam Park, False Creek, Vancouver, paddling in and around False Creek and English Bay
Start: Saturday, April 15th 8:00 AM
Finish: Sunday, April 16th 8:00 AM
A sincere thank you from the Monster & Sea 24 Vancouver 2017 team
Scott, Estelle, Jason, Mike, David & Lina
