Surfing greats gather with biotech professionals to surf for a cure

Legendary surfers, biotech and pharmaceutical industry employees, academic scientists, cancer survivors and health care workers gathered together on August 20, 2006 at Scripps Institute of Oceanography Pier to help raise awareness and fund research for cancer.
The Moores UCSD Cancer Center Luau & Longboard Invitational is now in its 13th year and is growing annually. Roughly $1.8 million has been raised thus far, and with this year’s contribution, a record total of $270,000, the Moores UCSD Cancer Center has never been equipped with a better arsenal in its fight against cancer.
Founded in 1979, UCSD Cancer Center was recently renamed the Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center in honor of the Moores’ leadership gift to the Center. The Center is one of just 39 in the United States to hold a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. As such, it ranks among the top centers in the nation conducting basic and clinical cancer research, providing advanced patient care and serving the community through outreach and education programs. The center’s mission is to translate promising scientific discoveries into new and better options for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the amelioration of pain.
This year’s luau, under the banner “Surf for a Cure,” included a showcase of surf art and music, a surf competition, and both a silent and live auction of classic surf memorabilia. Among the items auctioned at this year’s event was a 9’2” balsa wood longboard shaped by Keith Melville and TNT Surfboard Manufacturing.
“This was a fantastic year for the Luau,” Paul Cleary, this year’s event chairman, said. “Thanks to out title sponsor, Amgen, and all of the other companies, organizations, surfing legends and community members who supported this year’s ‘Surf for a Cure,’ we’ll be able to give the Moores’ UCSD Cancer Center more resources than ever before to support its fight against cancer.”
The largest gathering of surf legends in the world, the Luau hosted artists such as John Van Hamersveld, poster artist for Bruce Brown’s classic The Endless Summer, Robert August, Skip Frye, Mike Doyle, Rusty Preisendorfer, Peter Townend, Bruce Brown, and Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, all of whom spent time not only surfing, but also talking with the public about the importance of donating to such a worthy cause.
“This is really more than any other surf competition. It’s about the gathering of these diverse people and working together towards achieving a goal,” Wingnut said. A diverse group of people is right. It’s not often that you get to see teams of surfing legends catching waves with scientists.    
The diversity of the event was most apparent in the surf competition. The San Diego business community was well represented by Gen-Probe, Biogen IDEC, Favrille, Inc., Qualcomm, The San Diego Life Sciences Venture Team and the Walton Family Foundation, who all sponsored teams. There were 27 teams present, but it was the Walton Family Foundation’s team who snatched the first place finish. Second place went to The Cahill Family and third place went to The Quindel Corporation.
Surfing titles were not the only ones given at this year’s event. Georgia Robins Sadler, director for community outreach and clinical professor of surgery at the Scripps Institute, received the Rell Sunn “Queen of Makaha” Award. This award is given in memory of Rell Kapolioka’ehukai, the First Lady of Surfing, who passed away in 1998 from breast cancer. It is given to an individual for his or her efforts to fight cancer and their dedication to helping others in ways that embody the true “aloha” spirit.
Out of the water and inside the massive tents, guests were invited to socialize, eat and participate in a silent auction. Countless surfboards, vacation packages, and even a boat trip with Rusty Preisendorfer to Tavarua, were auctioned off anywhere from $9,000 to $50,000 per item.
The event was a huge success. Not only did the Moore’s UCSD Cancer Center earn over $250,000 for cancer research, they also hosted a fun-filled surf competition and luau for members of both the surf and biotech research communities alike.