Four-Time America's Cup Winner Russell Coutts to Open 2010 Leukemia Cup Regatta Weekend

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following event was announced by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter:

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100901/DC57868)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100901/DC57868)

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is pleased to announce that four-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts will open the fifth-annual Leukemia Cup Regatta weekend, October 2-3, 2010. Hosted by The San Francisco Yacht Club (SFYC) in Belvedere, CA, the Leukemia Cup Regatta supports LLS' mission to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

The Leukemia Cup Regatta weekend starts off with a VIP cocktail reception, live and silent auction and dinner at the SFYC on Saturday, October 2nd featuring special guest speaker, Russell Coutts. "The Leukemia Cup is about raising money for a good cause while enjoying a great day of sailing" says Coutts. "I'm honored to join the San Francisco sailing community in raising awareness and much needed funds for blood cancer research." Coutts' impressive sailing career includes winning the ISAF World Youth Championships, a Gold Medal in the 1984 Olympics, three World Match Racing Championships, and four America's Cup victories.

Sunday, October 3rd is race day; cruisers and spectators are also invited to participate on the water. New this year is a cruising class activity – cruising sailors can enjoy a day on the Bay while participating in a competitive photo scavenger hunt. Sunday's regatta race format consists of one race for One-Design and PHRF divisions. Sailors new to the sport participating in LLS' Sail for a Cure program will also take to the water and put their skills to the test. A trophy awards ceremony, barbecue and Mount Gay Rum party celebration on the SFYC lawn and regatta tent will immediately follow the races and cruising activities.

Bay Area skippers and crew will not only raise their sails in honor of blood cancer patients, but will also raise funds to support vital, cutting-edge blood cancer research and critical patient services. Local patients and survivors, or "honorary skippers," provide inspiration and connect participants to the cause. This year's honorary skippers include: Campbell Nolan, Ian Charles, Russ Coggeshall, Douglas Holmes, Chris Kostanecki, Lois Limbach, Sara Corace Moreno, Hoody Quill, Jameson Radu, George Rodericks, Lynn Spiller and Dave Wilhite, among others.

"In the three years that I have volunteered on this fundraiser, I have been amazed at how many people in our community have been touched by blood cancers. This has been an ongoing inspiration to keep working hard and reaching out to our community to create a common goal of finding a cure," said Regatta Co-Chair Anne Feinberg. To learn more about this year's honorary skippers, visit http://www.leukemiacup.org/sf/localchapter/patient.

The San Francisco Leukemia Cup Regatta began as a small community effort to support a local pediatric leukemia patient. In four years, it has become the top charity regatta in the nation. "We are very proud to say that we have raised nearly $2 million to help fund blood cancer research and patient services," said Regatta Co-Chair Bill Smith. "Thanks to the collective spirit of exceptional sailors who believe in giving back, the San Francisco Leukemia Cup has remained the top grossing event in the country for three years running. And this year's committee is determined to raise the bar and beat last year's fundraising total of $655,000."

Leukemia Cup Regatta fundraisers are eligible to win prizes courtesy of the event's national sponsors, including a weekend Fantasy Sail package on December 3-5 in Charleston, South Carolina. An annual event held for individuals across the nation who raise $8,500 or more, the Fantasy Sail is hosted by world-renowned sailor and ESPN commentator Gary Jobson. President of U.S. Sailing and a member of the 1976 America's Cup championship crew, Jobson is also a lymphoma survivor and he has served as the national Leukemia Cup Regatta Chairman since 1994.

A dedicated group of volunteers heads up the San Francisco Leukemia Cup Regatta efforts. Executive committee members include Honorary Chairman Tom Perkins, Co-Chairs Anne Feinberg and Bill Smith; David Joyner, Suzie Moore, Bill Nolan, Bob Ray and Robin Reynolds. The planning committee consists of Stacy Achuck, Forrest Gay, Jonathan Hart, Torin Knorr, Jib Martens, Carter Ott, Tiffany Sams, Keri Spiller, Ross Tibbits and honorary member Ray Lynch, Commodore of The San Francisco Yacht Club.

Sponsorship is a significant part of the San Francisco Leukemia Cup's success. This year's sponsors include:

Spinnaker Level: Belvedere Cove Foundation/The Cromar Foundation, Credit Suisse, Genentech, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management/Bank of America Corporation, Passport Capital, Sutter Health and UCSF Medical Center

Local Sponsor Level: Blue Shield, Jeff Burch, Forward Management and PricewaterhouseCoopers

Local Partner Level: Capital Pacific, Nude Skin Care, Frank Howard Allen Realtors and Stroub Construction.

Media Sponsors: Green 960 AM, Star 101.3 FM and The Band 103.7 FM

In Kind Sponsors: Club Nautique, GYRO:HSR, Hart's Desire Wine, Lost Coast Brewery, Restoration Hardware, Sea Bags and Top Productions

National Sponsors: Ken Gardiner, Jobson Sailing, John Mecray, Mount Gay Rum, North Sails, Sailing World, Vineyard Vines and West Marine

For more information about the Leukemia Cup Regatta, please contact Robin Reynolds at 415-407-2394 or at LLS at 415-625-1132 or visit www.leukemiacup.org/sf.

About the Leukemia Cup Regatta

Since its inception in 1993, more than $31 million has been raised across the nation through the Leukemia Cup Regatta series. In 2009, over 9,600 sailors competed in 38 Leukemia Cup Regattas, raising $3.6 million to help find a cure for blood cancer.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter