BACARDI Miami Sailing Week 2013
Sailing Heals continues its mission to take Miami Residents out for Healing Sails as part of BACARDI Miami Sailing Week 2013. The MA-based Non-Profit joins Shake-A-Leg and Team Paradise as BMSW’s Charities of Choice
March 2013, Miami, FL – Sailing Heals, a non-profit organization which is dedicated to taking cancer patients and their caregivers out on the water for days of healing, was again this year named one of the “Charities of Record†for BACARDIMiami Sailing Week and its upcoming regatta partner Newport Sailing Week, for 2013. This past week, the non-profit organization’s founders hosted a table on the last day of the popular sailing regatta which attracted more than 500 sailors and more than 175 sailboats from around the world. Participants cheered on the winners at Saturday evening’s award dinner which was held in the Hospitality Village in front of Coconut Grove’s Convention Center. Event owner and organizer Gabriele Pedone of STUDIOMILANOexplained why Sailing Heals, along with the other two charities Shake-a-Leg and Team Paradise—which both focus on sailing for the disabled—were chosen, “A carefree day on the water can have a very healing effect on people. In one way or another everyone’s life is touched by cancer, and we are pleased to help Sailing Heals foster new friendships and lifetime memories for Miami-area residents who may be experiencing a health setback.â€
The much-anticipated multi-class regatta was held in Coconut Grove from March 3rd to March 9th, 2013. On Sunday, March 10th, Sailing Heals along with several Host Captains from the Miami area took patients from a local hospital, along with family members, out for a great day of sailing, after enjoying a picnic lunch at Dinner Key Marina.
One of the sailors hosting the sail, Deborah Schuman, who along with her boyfriend Geraldo Marques and his boat Tucano hosted VIP Guest Jose Jeri, had this to say about the experience: “Jose told us today was the happiest day he’s had in years! To be a part of that experience is really something special.â€
Sailing Healspartners with local health care providers to coordinate sails with patients and caregivers, with the regatta participants often lending their support, enhancing the experience for all. In 2012 alone, Sailing Heals hosted more than 200 “VIP Guests†(patients and caregivers) for beautiful days on the water off the coasts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Florida. The organization, which was founded in 2011, was recently named as one of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center’s one hundred nominees, as a tribute to their mission of helping families and new friends join together in difficult times through the sport of sailing.
For more information, visit www.MiamiSailingWeek.com www.NewportSailingWeek.com and www.sailingheals.org
Press Contact: Trisha Boisvert
978-914-6609 (office) or 978-886-2561 (mobile)
trisha@sailingheals.org