West Marine, a leading boating, fishing and sailing retailer, is pleased to announce the kick off of its third annual campaign with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) taking place at all West Marine locations from September 1 through 30. Throughout the month, West Marine customers can donate to LLS by purchasing a paper sailboat they can add their name to and display in-store. Since September 2016, West Marine has raised nearly $200,000 for LLS.
The paper sailboat fundraiser is held in conjunction with the Leukemia Cup Regatta, a series of sailing events that take place at yacht clubs across North America. Regatta participants seek donations from friends, coworkers, family and companies to sponsor their boat. Funds help support life-saving research and patient services, bringing hope to patients and their families. Since the inception of the Leukemia Cup Regatta in 1988, over $70 million has been raised to help advance the LLS mission.
“For the past three years, West Marine has been proud to partner with LLS and our customers to contribute to the organization’s mission – a world without blood cancers,” said Laura Barry, director of marketing communications for West Marine. “One hundred percent of each donation supports LLS to help in the fight against leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Each year, our associates and more so, our customers, go above and beyond to donate to this cause and we cannot thank them enough.”
“West Marine’s unfailing support and the generosity of the sailing community has been key in enabling LLS to help more patients and their families who are on the front lines of the cancer battle. I am living proof of the research and treatment advances,” said Gary Jobson, National Chairman Emeritus of the Leukemia Cup Regatta and a lymphoma survivor.
For more information about West Marine and the LLS Leukemia Cup Regatta Series, please visit https://events.lls.org/home/westmarine2019.