Leukemia Cup Exceeds Expectations!

Almost a year ago, Pat Allen (PYC’s Past Director of Sail Education) approached the PYC Board of Governors to suggest a special event: the first Kansas Leukemia Cup Regatta. The Board agreed and this past Sunday a very enthusiastic Pat Allen was heard to say, “I couldn’t have imagined a better first event.”

Saturday began with a pancake breakfast cooked by Boy Scout volunteers who conducted a formal flag raising ceremony shortly afterward.  Racing events began with a skippers’ meeting, and thirteen boats were ready to cross the starting line by 11:30.

During the races, a kids’ Raingutter Regatta (complete with trophies) proved to be a hit. Later, folks not racing in rain gutters or lake waters tried standup paddle boarding at the beach – courtesy of Piddle Paddle.

Saturday evening festivities began at 6:00 with a BBQ dinner generously prepared by Smoke on Wheels.  Dancing continued into the night with live music donated by the No Cash Value band.

Sunday began with another pancake breakfast.  Racing started at 9:30 with trophies and awards immediately following.  And the winners are…

Jib and Main division:

1. Neal Barkley (San Juan 21)
2. Amy Wilson (PYC’s Pink Santana 20)
3. Chris Drayer (Catalina 34)

Spinnaker division:

1. Bill Mendel (Ultimate 20)
2. Paul Fetterman from Weatherby Lake (Santana 20)
3. Terril Cook (J/29)

Multi-hull division:

1. Ricardo Oben (Nacra 17)
2. Mike Lindeman (Hobie 18)

Overall Winner: Ricardo Oben, earning the Leukemia Cup burgee and the highly coveted cooler of beer!

Shirts and raffle tickets for a Samsung Wi-Fi Tablet donated by Sprint were sold on Saturday. The jubilant winner of that prize was visitor Margie Edgar from Perry Lake Yacht and Marina. Margie is a two time cancer survivor

A highlight of this event was having guest sailors participate in the regatta and join in the festivities.  It is estimated that 175 folks participated in the festivities during the weekend.

Craig and Leesa Gable (in green shirts) give a congratulatory hug to Margie Edgar (middle), winner of the raffle grand prize

It is only through the efforts of the many volunteers and donors working behind the scenes that made this event not only a reality, but also a huge success. A special thanks to:

• Overland Park Awards
• Smoke on Wheels
• The No Cash Value band
• Piddle Paddle
• Boy Scouts
• Sprint
• Matt Gatewood
• Terri Tilford
• Lisa and Jacqueline Hockenberg
• Rick Gepford
• Jeff Brinkmeyer and sons
• Gina and Gregg Paste
• The volunteers from LLS Team in Training
• Proforma Marketing and Promotional Solutions
• Lee Cline and the crews who ran the mark and committee boats
• Coast Guard Axillary 
• Perry Yacht Club and its Board of Governors
• The many volunteers at PYC who pitch in AS ALWAYS when there is work to be done!

An enormous thanks to Craig and Leesa Gable and Pat Allen for their vision to lead this event and the hours of work required to make it happen.  Although Leesa has chronic Leukemia, it doesn’t stop her and her husband from being extremely active in all sorts of events to raise funds to help families battle these horrible diseases.  Leesa actually enjoyed doing Committee Boat duty so much on Saturday, she and her son Alex volunteered for duty on Sunday as well!  What a trooper!

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the participating teams and to the attendees, so far the amount brought in by this regatta is over $11,000.  That number far exceeds amounts raised at any PYC event to date.  Terril Cook’s team holds the designation of not only raising the most funds, but also having the greatest number of crew on his boat!  Contributions are still coming in.  It’s not too late to donate to have the funds count toward this event.  You may go to  www.kansasleukemiacup.org  to contribute your tax deductible donations for this worthwhile cause.

You may order the blue dryfit shirts with the Leukemia Cup logo by contacting Pat Allen at allenhouse4@sbcglobal.net or (913) 648-6028 before Tuesday, June 26th.  Cost is $15.

Thank you to all of you for making the first Leukemia Cup Regatta in Kansas such a success.  It far exceeded everyone’s expectations, but the efforts of the members of Perry Yacht Club often do. 

Sail for fun!  Sail for a cause!