The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2011 Leukemia Cup Regatta Hits $1 Million Milestone

Top charity Regatta in the nation raises funds for blood cancer research and patient services

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leukemia Cup Honorary Chairman, Tom Perkins, and VIP Dinner guest speaker, John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, along with hundreds of Bay Area sailors raised an impressive $1,020,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) at the sixth annual Leukemia Cup Regatta on October 1-2, 2011.  Hosted by The San Francisco Yacht Club (SFYC) in Belvedere, this annual fundraising regatta continues to be the top charity regatta in the nation and supports LLS's mission to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111010/DC83499)

This year's top individual fundraiser was Leukemia Cup Committee Co-Chair, Anne Feinberg, with a total of $35,055. Anne and the Fast Friends crew also received the Leukemia Cup Perpetual Trophy, an award given to the top fundraising boat. Charles Froeb came in second with a total of $29,813 and Bill Nolan placed third with a total of $25,900. These top fundraisers, along with thirteen other participants who raised over $8,500, qualified to attend a weekend sailing event in New York City with National Chairman, Gary Jobson.

In an exquisitely decorated dinner setting by Anne Feinberg and Committee Member Stacy Achuck, guest speaker, John Doerr delivered a stimulating discussion regarding social media, mobile applications and the local versus global indications of these technologies.  The live auction following Mr. Doerr's presentation raised more than $125,000.  One of the premier lots at the auction was a private dinner with Tom Perkins at his Millennium Tower Penthouse.  Executive Committee member Bill Nolan was the lucky winner.  In addition, Brad Webb auctioned a sail for 12 guests aboard USA 76 and it was purchased by John Doerr.  Other auction items included an AC45 catamaran ride from Artemis Racing and a guest racer spot on ORACLE Racing's AC45.  Montres CORUM USA donated two beautiful Admiral's Cup Challenge watches, one for the top fundraising trophy award and another for the auction. Leukemia Cup top fundraiser, Anne Feinberg, generously donated her prize watch, which literally caused the event to cross the $1 million threshold.

Since its inception, the Bay Area Leukemia Cup Regatta has raised a total of $3.5 million. 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. Many of the Honorary Skippers raced in the Leukemia Cup including Drake Jensen, who was onboard David Joyner's Melges 24, Full Throttle.

Seventy-three boats competed in a variety of classes on Sunday, October 2, 2011.  The race was PHRF with spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions. The class winners include: Skip McCormack, Trunk Monkey (Div 1 spinnaker); Frank Morrow, Hawkeye (Div 2 spinnaker); Phillip Laby, Godot (Div 3 J/105); Hank Easom, Yucca (Div 4 spinnaker); Magnus "Julle" LeVicki, Min Flicka (Div 5 spinnaker); Jim Lindsey, Topgallant (Div 6); David Borton, French Kiss (Div 7); Craig McDow, Sweet Reward  (Div 8); Susan Bell, Twinidad (Div 9 Colgate 26). Final race results are posted on the SFYC website at www.sfyc.org.  

Among those racing on Sunday were nine Sail For A Cure participants. Sail For A Cure, in partnership with Club Nautique Sailing School, teaches individuals how to sail while they raise funds for LLS. These new sailors raised more than $25,000 and put their skills to test while racing Colgate 26 sailboats.

The Leukemia Cup Regatta cruising class photo scavenger hunt was another fun-filled event for the cruising participants. The cruising winners included: First place, Lisa Klairmont and Harold Kleiderman, Andiamo and second place, John Reilly, Destiny.

A dedicated group of volunteers headed up the Bay Area Leukemia Cup Regatta efforts. Executive committee members included Honorary Chairman Tom Perkins, Co-Chairs Anne Feinberg, Suzie Moore and Bill Smith; David Joyner, Bill Nolan and Robin Reynolds. The planning committee consists of Stacy Achuck, Jonathan Hart, Torin Knorr, Jib Martens, Carter Ott, Bob Ray, Tiffany Sams, Keri Spiller, Ross Tibbits; sub committee members include Matt Frymier, Forrest Gay, Ellen Hoke (photographer), Greta Messina, Brian Riley, Andrew Sams, Bartz Schneider, Michelle Slade, Dustin & Kelly Sventy and Elizabeth Wilhelm; and honorary member Bob Heller, Commodore of The San Francisco Yacht Club.

2011 Sponsors
Spinnaker Level: Belvedere Cove Foundation/The Cromar Foundation, Blue Shield of California, Credit Suisse, Danford Foundation/Ted Hannig, Genentech, Merrill Lynch, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Passport Capital.
Local Sponsor Level: Jeff Burch/Hot Ticket, Enersen Foundation, Forward Management, Pacific Union International, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sutter Health.
Local Partner Level: Capital Pacific, DLA Piper, Frank Howard Allen Realtors, Stroub Construction, Western Investments Capital.
Media Sponsors: FOX Newsradio 960AM, Oldies 103.7, Star 101.3, KISS 98.1, KTVU Channel 2
In Kind Sponsors: Brad Webb & USA 76, Club Nautique, Ella Vickers, FLIR, GYRO, J/120 Fleet #5, KINeSYS, Montres Corum USA, The Moorings, Realm Cellars, Simon Pearce, Shreve & Co, Spinnaker Sailing, Svendsen's.
National Sponsors: Ken Gardiner, Jobson Sailing, John Mecray, Mount Gay Rum, North Sails, Sailing World, Vineyard Vines and West Marine.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.  The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $750 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 6.3 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers.  IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

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