The Sarcoma Alliance

WE DID IT! WE NOW HOLD THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR FASTEST 3 PERSON RELAY. PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO FUNDRAISE!

We completed a historic and monumental paddle from Cuba to Florida in June 2017 to raise funds and awareness for two non-profit causes close to our hearts, as well as to inspire the Cuban athletic community, and we would like to invite you to be part of this amazing journey. Paddle. Inspire. Give. This is a politics-free paddle! DONATIONS FROM THIS PAGE GO DIRECTLY TO OCEAN OF HOPE- SECOND OPINION GRANTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS.

A little bit about each paddler committed to making this happen:

Aimee Spector
Aimee teaches special needs students in Redondo Beach, California and has competed throughout the world in paddling since 1998; she trains to compete in many athletic disciplines, including marathon and ultramarathon running, triathlons and SUP races, but prone paddleboarding and outrigger canoe paddling are her true passions, and she uses her training and racing as a means for community involvement and outreach. Aimee is compassionate, determined, self-disciplined and focused, and is excited to make this trip a reality.

Cynthia Aguilar
Cynthia is an EMT and ocean rescue lifeguard on the beaches of Miami, Florida. As a competitive swimmer and water polo player in high school, Cynthia learned to love the challenge of pushing her body at a young age. Cynthia found the sport of paddleboarding an important and fundamental way to share her tremendous talents and passions, and she hopes this paddle will inspire others to approach life in the same way.

Karen Figueroa
Karen is a teacher, a lecturer, and a mom of two grown boys. She travels between Florida and Hawaii, training and motivating students to pursue their educational goals. Her paddling journey began on a whim at the suggestion of a friend and with a borrowed board. That small decision changed her life, and she now trains and races alongside the best paddlers in the world. Karen sees this Cuba to Key West paddle an adventure of a lifetime and an opportunity to encourage others to let the ocean inspire and motivate them because "It's never too late to be what you might have been."

The Paddle
We will be attempting to paddle the 100 miles from Havana, Cuba to the Florida Keys on prone paddleboards. Although there have been attempts such as this in the past, this will be the first that sets out directly from the shore of Cuba using traditional stock (12 ft) paddleboards, the first to have 3 strong female athletes focus on fundraising as the motivation for their journey , and the first to connect with the people of Cuba to inspire budding young athletes. It will be no easy task, but we are up for the challenge! This is a politics-free paddle!

The Charitable Causes
*DONATIONS FROM THIS PAGE GO DIRECTLY TO OCEAN OF HOPE- SECOND OPINION GRANTS FOR CANCER PATIENTS.*

Ocean of Hope- dedicated to supporting cancer patients with better access to specialists and improved treatment options and to providing hope through the cancer survivor paddling team

Special Olympics Florida- dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition

The proceeds from this fundraiser will be split between the two charities.


We are so excited to embark on this paddle and hope that you will join us in supporting our outreach efforts.
Check us out here:
https://www.facebook.com/cuba2floridaepicpaddle/
Help spread the word!




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Hi everyone,

On 11 December 2016 I'll be running my first (and possibly only!) half-marathon: the NYCRUNS Frozen Bonsai Half Marathon.

I'm running to raise money for the Sarcoma Alliance, a charity whose mission is to guide, educate and support people with sarcoma and their family, friends, and caregivers. 
 
One month ago, my brother-in-law, Ian Montie, was diagnosed with a chondroblastic osteosarcoma and is currently undergoing treatment at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore. He has a fantastic support network of friends and family and is a true fighter! You can do this, bro!


I'd be very grateful if you could sponsor me in this event and help raise money for this fantastic resource in support of Ian, a veteran FULL marathon runner!

Thanks

Steve

Hello Friends and Family,

On April 19th I will be running a 15K in Prospect Park, Brooklyn in order to raise money and awareness for a rare type of bone cancer (Chondrosarcoma) that my dear friend Janina Brandt (pictured on the far left) was diagnosed with last year.

Janina was diagnosed just 6 months after giving birth to her twin boys. Janina had two- thirds of her left femur removed and reconstructed with cadaver bone that saved her life.

While Janina's surgery was a success in terms of getting rid of the cancer and reconstructing her leg, 6 months after surgery her bone had not regenerated enough to allow her to walk again. Janina felt lucky to be under the care of a doctor (Dr. Thomas Temple) who had just finalized a 15-year project to create the first stem cell (the MIAMI cell) for bone regeneration and healing. During her second surgery Janina was the first patient to receive the MIAMI cell. A month after this surgery Janina's bone began regenerating and now, five months later, she's walking with a cane: slowly regaining her mobility and her life.

Believe it or not, Janina is luckier than most patients diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma because her cancer was caught so early. Chondrosarcoma typically doesn't respond to radiation or chemotherapy, so there are few treatment options at this point.

The rarity of sarcoma cancers is a barrier to attracting researchers and raising funds and it is a family of cancers as destructive and evil as any other.

I am happy to have the chance to raise money in honor of my friend Janina. Those of you who know her know how blessed I am to count her as a friend- she is loving, smart, funny and one of the kindest people I know. I am so grateful that Janina is in recovery and I am confident that she will walk unassisted one day soon.

Janina has been told that she will never be able to run again. So, I'm running the race for both of us.  Please consider donating today.