18th Annual Surf for a Cause will be held Saturday, Sept. 8 at Margate's Decatur Avenue beach.
MARGATE The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation will welcome surfers of all ages and breeds to the 18th annual Surf For A Cause event being held Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Decatur Avenue beach. While some will be raising money for people with cancer and competing for prizes, others will just be hot-dogging on the water.
The spotlight will shine on Heart of Surfing, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free surfing and skateboarding sessions for families with autism and special needs. Families with special needs who are interested in participating can learn more at heartofsurfing.org
Back by popular demand, surfing dogs Booker D. Surfdog and Onyx Shorepound Surfdog will also be on the beach and in the water lending their paws for a demonstration. Booker D. Surfdog recently had her own run in with cancer had her spleen removed last Thanksgiving. After a period of rest and a diet of vegetables, turmeric, love and excitement, Booker D. Surfdog is back on her board and bringing smiles to faces across the country.
The Surf For A Cause is a stop on the Booker D. Surfdog Endless Barbecue Tour. It is her way of giving back to the world she loves so much, including Heart of Surfing and the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation, said her trainer Pops Steinberg.
Surfers will compete for prizes for their ability to shred and dance a wall of moving water. In the weeks leading up to the competition, surfers and supporters will battle for top-fundraising honors and prizes in the Surf It Forward fundraising campaign that is currently ongoing at thedrcf.org.
Three top fundraisers will each take home a custom-designed surfboard shaped by Brian Wynn, who has raised the most funds in the male 17-years-old and younger, female 17-years-old and younger and adults 18-years-old and older categories.
Surf Club Vacations will also award the top fundraising middle school or high school student 12-years-old and older with a guided surfing adventure to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. This trip includes board rental, lesson, airfare, hotel accommodations and breakfast daily. The second place fundraiser in the student category will receive a surfboard signed by Dean Randazzo.
Anyone can become a virtual surfer and fundraise on behalf of the foundation and join in the event festivities. Spectators are welcome and to come out and watch the surfing, which will start at 8 a.m. and an after-party and awards presentation starting at 4 p.m. presented by Ventura's Greenhouse. Tickets to the after-party only are $25.
Surfing contest entries are $50 per division, $15 for each additional division, and includes a ticket to the after-party. Entries are free for grom boys, 11 years old and younger, and gromette girls, 12 years old and younger. There are also divisions for longboard and standup paddleboard. Anyone who raises $75 will receive a Surf It Forward hat and sticker. All entries include a Surf For A Cause T-shirt and a ticket to the after-party.
Surfers are required to check-in between 7-8 a.m. the day of the event and the first heat begins at 8 a.m.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in each of the the following age divisions: groms 11 and younger, gromettes 12 and younger, boys 12-14, junior mens 15-17, men's 18-24, masters men 25-34, legends 45 and older, girls 13-15, womens 16 and older, open longboard and open stand-up paddleboard.
The foundation will also honor Shore True Value Hardware and owners Alison Dannenhower and Paul Giunta.
Sponsorships and raffle items are still being accepted but will not be counted towards fundraising totals. Contact Dan Cellucci at [email protected]. See thedrcf.org for information.
