As many of you know, Team Due West has been very involved in fundraising and racing in the Leukemia Cup Regatta for the past 15 years. As we are now in full cruise-prep mode, we decided last year would be our last year to race and fundraise for this great event.


Team Due West leading the pack, flying our "Big Blue" spinnaker.

Thanks to many of you, we have raised over $125,000 in the past 15 years, to help fund research in finding a cure for blood cancers. Heidi's grandfather Oxy died of Leukemia in 1982, when there weren't many treatment options available. Over the years we've had many other friends and family directly effected by Leukemia and Lymphoma.

This really hit home to us last summer when Heidi's best friend, Laren, was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a very aggressive, difficult to treat type of Lymphoma, that typically strikes men over age 60. Laren was an otherwise completely healthy mid-40 year old female who didn't fit the profile for Mantle Cell Lymphoma at all. She was as a Holistic Health Coach helping others to live healthier lives, when she was diagnosed with lymphoma, completely out of the blue. Blood cancers can strike anyone, at any time, even otherwise "healthy" people.


Laren rocking her blue wig post-chemo, pre-transplant.

Laren has spent the past 9 months going through rounds of chemo, and ultimately a stem cell transplant. It is thanks to all of your past donations that Laren is alive and doing well today. Her doctor and his ongoing research were directly funded by some of your past donations.

Because of Laren's ordeal, we knew we had to race and fundraise ONE LAST Leukemia Cup Regatta, in honor of Laren and her valiant fight against Lymphoma. So we are raising the bar with a goal of reaching $10,000 in donations for our very last Leukemia Cup Regatta, on Saturday, June 7, 2014.

PLEASE consider donating online today, to help us reach our goal in our last Leukemia Cup Regatta before we sail away.

Please also let us know if you would like your donation made in honor of or in memory of anyone, and we will add their name to our Leukemia Cup Regatta burgees to fly during the race.

Thanks so much for your support!
-Heidi & Kirk
TEAM DUE WEST