The Mission of SUP4C & Athletes for Cancer
SUP 4 Cancer is an event of Athletes for Cancer, which harnesses the healing power of the elements with the tenacity of the human spirit to benefit those affected by cancer through funding of advocacy, prevention, and survivorship programs.
What We Do
We fund programs that focus on the health and living aspect of this disease – prevention, awareness, and survivorship for those with cancer. In 2011 we started hosting our own SUP, Surf, and Snow survivorship camps for young adults with cancer. These camps aim to foster self-confidence and strengthen survivorship through outdoor adventure and ocean healing. Read the report from one of our survivorship camps here. Or, watch our video.
This is what makes Paddle & SUP 4 Cancer the most powerful event in stand paddling.
Make an impact on people’s lives. Funds raised from athletes before and during SUP 4 Cancer benefit Athletes for Cancer’s Koru Survivorship camps for adolescent and young adult (ages 15-39) cancer survivors. Young adults are a very under-served demographic in cancer treatment and survivorship programs.
Athletes for Cancer aims to help improve quality of life for these young adults living with and beyond cancer, while empowering them to achieve their peak potential and get busy living through their survivorship. These camps aim to foster self-confidence and strengthen survivorship through action sports — surfing, standup paddling, outrigger canoeing, and other outdoor adventure skills.
Here’s how (watch Soul Surf Media’s video on the Koru Survivorship Program)
Adolescents and young adult cancer survivors face unique challenges after cancer. Cancer turns life upside down physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Cancer may have spared these individual their lives, but the scars left behind are often more severe than the fight itself.
Athletes for Cancer runs adventure-therapy retreats that promote a healthy model for survivorship, aiming to grow survivor confidence and self-esteem by providing an attainable platform for personal success, self-growth, and achievement.
A4C introduces fighters and survivors to the snow or ocean environment, empowering them to find healing and achievement through surfing, snowboarding, standup paddling, outrigger canoeing, and other outdoor adventures. Our goal is to transform survivor outlook on life, empower them to find confidence to thrive, succeed and inspire others facing cancer to do the same.
If you are interested in helping us put on these camps, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for locations and accommodations that are on or near the water, maybe a camp or cabins setup, with safe access to the beach. We are open to locations in North America at this time. In addition, we are looking for volunteers for the following positions:
- Oncology team for medical application process
- Medical staff volunteers
- SUP & Surf instructors
- Camp volunteer EMTs
- Camp volunteers
- Cooks and assistant cooks
- Logistics coordinators (drivers, shufflers, gear managers)
We are also seeking monetary and service donations. For more information and to get involved, either complete the volunteer app or email tonia@athletes4cancer.org
