America's Cup Champions Ted Turner And Gary Jobson Featured Guest Speakers At Leukemia Cup VIP Dinner

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is pleased to announce that America's Cup champions Ted Turner and Gary Jobson will attend the seventh annual Leukemia Cup Regatta weekend, October 20-21, 2012. 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 San Francisco Leukemia Cup Regatta began as a small community effort to support a local pediatric leukemia patient, and in six years, it has become the top charity regatta in the nation, raising more than one million dollars in 2011. Sailors raise their sails in honor of blood cancer patients and survivors, or "Honorary Skippers," who give real inspiration to the sailors who support this important cause.

"San Francisco has led the way in our Leukemia Cup series," Gary Jobson said. "Both Ted Turner and I are honored to participate in this year's event. This is my twentieth year of being national chairman of the Leukemia Cup and I very much look forward to joining many sailors in San Francisco."

"Last year we set a goal of raising at least one million dollars and I'm very pleased we exceeded that milestone in helping fund blood cancer research and patient services," said Leukemia Cup Honorary Chairman Tom Perkins.

The Leukemia Cup Regatta weekend begins on Saturday October 20, with a VIP reception and dinner with special guest speakers Ted Turner and Gary Jobson. On Sunday, October 21, Leukemia Cup Regatta racing will begin at noon for one design and PHRF divisions and new this year the "Classic Yacht Class" with Gary Jobson and Ted Turner racing aboard "Santana." For young sailors, the Opti Green Fleet Youth Regatta gets underway at noon on Sunday. Additionally, the Cruising Class will keep busy on the water with a Photo Treasure Hunt. Registration is now open at http://www.leukemiacup.org/sf, and for the youth regatta (ages 8-16) email: [email protected]. Trophy awards ceremony and deck party celebration at The San Francisco Yacht Club will be held immediately following racing.

2012 Sponsors
Spinnaker Sponsors ($10,000): Blue Shield of California, Credit Suisse, Danford Foundation/Ted Hannig, Genentech, Merrill Lynch, Millennium ~ The Takeda Oncology Company and Passport Capital.
Windward Sponsors ($5,000): Broadmark Asset Management, Jeff Burch/Hot Ticket, Capital Pacific, The Enersen Foundation, Forward Investing, Kilroy Realty, Pacific Union International ~ Christie's Great Estates, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sutter Health and TPG.   
Local Sponsors ($2,500): DLA Piper, Frank Howard Allen Realtors, Eric and Jessica Kosmowski, Sterling Stamos and Stroub Construction.
Media Sponsors: Newstalk 910AM KKSF, Oldies 103.7, Star 101.3, KISS 98.1 and KTVU Channel 2
InKind Sponsors: Sean Cope Pictures, GYRO, Scott Kennedy Marine Art, Realm Cellars, The San Francisco Yacht Club and SNAP Event Planning.
National Sponsors: Ken Gardiner, Jobson Sailing, Mount Gay Rum, The Moorings, North Sails, Offshore Sailing School, Sailing World and West Marine.

For more information about the Leukemia Cup Regatta, contact Robin Reynolds at 415-625-1132 (office) or visit www.leukemiacup.org/sf.

About the Leukemia Cup Regatta
The Leukemia Cup Regatta(SM) is a thrilling series of sailing events that combines the joy of boating with the important task of raising money to cure cancer. Since its inception, The Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised millions of dollars for lifesaving research and patient services, bringing help and hope to patients and their families. At events held at yacht clubs across North America, skippers register their boats and recruit friends and colleagues to help crew and to raise funds. Crew members seek donations from friends, family, co-workers and employers to sponsor their boat. National and local event sponsors also support the Leukemia Cup Regatta.

Since its inception in 1993, more than $38 million has been raised across the nation through the Leukemia Cup Regatta series. In 2011, over 10,500 sailors competed in 48 Leukemia Cup Regattas, raising $4.2 million to help find a cure for blood cancer.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission is to 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 http://www.lls.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. http://www.lls.org  

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