The
first Leukemia Cup Regatta was held by the Pine Harbor Yacht
Club for the benefit of the Alabama Chapter in April 1988.
Funds were raised in memory of a member of the club who
lost his life to leukemia, and $5,000 in donations was presented
to the Society.
The
Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis, MD, pioneered the concept
of competition among boats and crews to raise funds for
the fight against leukemia. The June 1993 event raised $30,000,
with the yacht club handling all sailing and water-related
logistics, and the Society's Maryland Chapter coordinating
all land-based fund raising and event activities. Forty
boats vied for the Leukemia Cup, presented to the crew that
raised the most funds, with other prizes awarded to other
fund raising crews and sailors.
Enthusiasm
for the event spread across the country into other markets
after a presentation at the Society's October 1993 Annual
Leadership Conference by noted sailing expert and ESPN commentator
Gary Jobson, who serves as the national chairman of the
Leukemia Cup Regatta. Jobson is still working with the Society
to help organize other regattas and sponsorships on the
national, regional and local levels.
In
2000, the sailing community raised more than $1.8 million
at 41 Leukemia Cup Regattas, bringing the overall campaign
results to more than $5.3 million. More than 15,000 sailors
participated in the Regattas in 2000.
Sailing
World magazine (circulation 60,000) is again serving
as the media sponsor of the Leukemia Cup Regatta and will
run seven full-page ads promoting the series throughout
2003, with three additional ads to run in Cruising World
(circulation 146,000). Other national sponsors include West
Marine, Mount Gay Rum, The Moorings, North Sails, John
Mecray and Ken Gardiner.
Great
Lakes Yacht Club started participating in the Leukemia Cup
Regatta in 2000.
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