If you’re kind of stressed out today or need something uplifting, keep reading.
On Saturday, May 16, 2016, Yacht Clubs for Wishes (Coronado Cays Yacht Club, Navy Yacht Club, and Coronado Yacht Club) held their 8th annual “Amazing Race” fundraiser for the San Diego Make-A-Wish® foundation.
While I want to quickly get to the amazing Coronado residents, friends, and families who supported this activity, I can’t get past the actual purpose for this charity: the kids who have terminal illnesses and their parents.
One Make-A-Wish® recipient, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, attended the event with her family. She dreams of bringing her family to the The Disneyland Aulani Resort. (Given that recipients of wishes must be under 18 at the time of designation, it’s not surprising that Disneyland is involved in over 40% of wishes.)
While it brings us a smile to know that this sweet family, who has to deal with something most of us can’t imagine, gets to go to the Disneyland Resort, there really is a more profound impact than just this one trip.
Consider these surprising and powerful statistics taken from the San Diego Make-A-Wish® website:
- 98% of wish parents felt the wish experience gave them an opportunity to be a “normal” family again.
- 9 out of 10 nurses, doctors, social workers and child life specialists say the wish experience can influence wish kids’ physical health.
- 92% of parents saw their children experience re-empowerment to take back the ability to make decisions in their lives.
- 74% of wish parents felt that the wish experience marked a turning point in their own child’s battle against their medical condition.
Really, click on the website and watch just one story. It will enrich whatever you’re doing, wherever you are right now.
So while the yacht clubs’ “Amazing Race” fundraiser was indeed a lot of fun, the impact the participants are making is tremendous.
The “Amazing Race” consists of two types of fun competitions (biking or boating), followed by a luncheon, auction, and raffle.
Most of the participants participated in the race that took place on bikes. Each team of approximately 8-12 members biked a pre-planned course around the Coronado Cays, stopping at various stations along the way to complete a required task. The tasks included unexpected projects, such as unfolding a frozen T-shirt and then requiring a team member to wear the ice-cold shirt, and things as quotidian as completing a word-puzzle.
Another acceptable version of the race was for those less inclined toward physical activity, and more inclined toward the advantages of boating-about on a lovely Saturday morning around a water course, with challenges along the way. For those on boats, 5-6 people would get off their boat at each challenge station and perhaps sing karaoke, complete a memory challenge, or play a game of corn-hole.
In order to compete, each team had to raise money in advance to support the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.
The “Marina Misfits” said that the course was very fun, but challenging: “It worked our body and our brain.” They said that the most challenging puzzle was at Fiddler’s Cove where they had to look through a marketing book and figure out thirty-one brand name logos.
While some teams were composed of families and friends, other teams represented businesses that were proud to come together to support this important philanthropy. Planet Rooth is an art studio, gallery, and design space. Planet Rooth CEO Jeff Jakus said he and his partner Gustuf Rooth “believe in kids and dreams – we are artists, and artists are dreamers who believe dreams come true.”
Rylie Brenden enjoyed volunteering and her mother was very proud of her. Ms. Brenden shared: “We live such a fortunate life, volunteering helps kids be grounded.” Indeed, research from the Make-A-Wish® Foundation bears this out.
A research report on the Make-A-Wish® San Diego website noted: “Wish parents, wish-granting volunteers and health professionals who treat and refer wish kids report an increased sense of compassion, greater trust in humanity, an enhanced desire to help others and a deepened commitment to philanthropy resulting from their experience with Make-A-Wish®.”
Chris Sichel, President and CEO of the San Diego Make-a-Wish® Foundation said: “Make-A-Wish® San Diego is honored to have the support of the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, Coronado Yacht Club, and the Navy Yacht Club.”
Sichel pointed out that the Yacht Clubs’ Amazing Race is the largest external event in San Diego. Since the event’s inception, over half a million dollars have been raised.
Betsy Bondurant organized the event this year. She remarked that “she had a blast.” She emphasized that she “had a great committee that was passionate about their work, but also were ready to have a lot of fun.” She appreciated all the sponsors for their contributions to the event. Finally, she emphasized that all San Diego yacht clubs are welcome to participate in next years’ 9th Annual “Amazing Race.”
It sure was a happy group of people who gathered to celebrate their accomplishments, to feel gratitude for their blessings, and to experience deep compassion for families whose children have a life-threatening illness. They had just completed a meaningful activity that brought out the best in all of them.
