The 25th annual Leukemia Cup Regatta will kick off the Elliott Bay’s Summer Sailing Series on June 8. Organized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), the charity regatta is a favorite among local sailors and open to teams from all over the Puget Sound.
Once registered, participants gather donations from friends, family, and co-workers to raise money for their team in a fund-raising competition. The money is used by the LLS to invest into the latest blood cancer research and to support patients and their families in the Northwest. Over the course of its 25-year history, the organization’s combined regattas have raised more than $66 million nationally. Fundraising participants are eligible for rewards, including Leukemia Cup logo gear and Gill gift cards. Teams that raise $15,000 can get a spot at the LLS Fantasy Sail event, taking place at the Pink Shell Marina in Fort Meyer, Florida, in fall 2019.
The Seattle-based chapter of the LLS provides education and emotional support programs for patients in Washington and Alaska, as well as financial assistance to cover the cost of travel and insurance payments. Seven cancer research projects at Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center are currently being supported by the LLS with grants totaling $2.9 million. Over the last 20 years, the LLS has donated $30 million to Fred Hutch.
“As sailors, we love to be on the water,” says Glenn Bonci, a 15-year veteran of the Leukemia Cup Regatta. “With the Leukemia Cup, we get a chance to do something we love while advancing a great cause. The regatta brings together so many spirited people out to have fun—and we have a lot of fun! And, it helps develop important research discoveries for blood cancers. I look forward to seeing you out there—and don’t forget to make a donation!”
Last year alone, the LLS provided $1 million in assistant to 400 patients in Washington and Alaska. To register for the regatta or to learn more, visit leukemiacup.org/wa.
