On Friday August 7, more than 50 Optimist sailors – ages 8 to 15 – came to Oyster Bay, NY to sail in “Reach for a Cure,” a charity regatta hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Junior Yacht Club to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories.The weather cooperated fully, with beautiful skies and a Northwest breeze in the 12 to 16 knot range. The more experienced sailors had lots of fun in the short waves, while the less experienced kids (and there was even a Green fleet for novice racers), the windy conditions proved a challenge which they overcame. The SCYC Race Committee, ably assisted by the club’s junior instructors, was able to complete all four scheduled races as the wind diminished. After the racing, everyone was treated to ice cream sundaes on shore just prior to the awards ceremony, which included raffle drawings, prizes for the top eight donations raised and trophies for the top five finishers in all four fleets – Red, Blue, White and Green.
Holly Constants, 16 and her brother Cam, 14, came up with the idea for a charity regatta to benefit breast cancer research after witnessing firsthand a Green Vale School teacher’s longtime struggle with breast cancer. They spent the past year planning event, organizing a committee, asking local businesses and friends to donate items for the silent auction and raffle, preparing gift baskets, organizing goody bags emblazoned with a Reach for a Cure logo, helping to design the t-shirts, contacting clubs around Long Island Sound to encourage attendance, and helping to organize the actual regatta, which included scoring and running the safety boat. An affirmation that this teacher often quotes appears on the regatta t-shirts: “If you can’t change the wind, adjust your sails!” Holly is a 2008 graduate of The Green Vale School (Old Brookville, NY) who is in her eleventh grade year at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY. Cam is in the eighth grade at The Green Vale School.
Reach for a Cure was a very successful event that brought a great deal of awareness to the cause. Numerous e-mails were received from people who shared their own personal stories of either their own struggle or a loved one’s struggle with breast cancer. The silent auction, raffle, donations and regatta fees helped raise over $10,000. Seawanhaka’s Junior program is very pleased that they were able to provide so many sailors with an opportunity to race, bring awareness to and raise money for breast cancer research. ✦
