KB4C ---- who are we fighting for.

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

This is one of the most important weekends of the year for me. I love kiting. I love the sport and the wonderful friendships I have made. It fuels us all. Now we can use kiteboarding to help save and improve lives. Cancer is a disease that touches us all every day, friends, family, acquaintances. We may ourselves someday be faced with the battle for our own lives. For many that someday is now. I have had many friends and family who have fought cancer but here are the few I think of now.

Last year all I could think about were two buddies who’s love for life and board sports have deeply influenced my life.

I grew up in Alaska as a kid addicted to skateboarding. I was one of two kids with a half pipe in my yard. Jimmy Steger was my skate partner. He was a year younger but taller and thin. He ripped at everything. He was the best skateboarder around. We skated everyday, even in winter shoveling the snow off the ramps in February at the slightest hint of a thaw. We would read all the skate mags and dream of future trips to California if we ever got the cash. He also was the most amazing mogul skier I had ever seen. He had no fear and pushed hard every day. Crashing hard and laughing every time. We grew older and I got into track and x-country and he went onto be captain of the football team and prom king. He was smart, athletic, very funny and loved by all. We would hang and dream of all our future plans. I got into college in Oregon. I took off to college and told him to plan on hanging a lot the next summer. I came back and he was gone. He lost the battle to leukemia. Wish I could have done something to help him and his family.

I met Tom in la ventana a few years ago with his wife lynee. As many of you know they shaped a wonderful life with summers in Stevenson and winters in Baja. Every time I would go down to Baja I would kite near captain kirks and he would be there. He has so much fun on the water. I love kiting with him. He just makes you want to relax and kite for a deeper sense of self. Just realizing what a gift we have been given. Last year he started his battle with kidney cancer. Life has changed. Reshaped. Refocused. I think he is winning. I hope I get many more years to share good kiting sessions with tom.

Last year all I could do was think about Tom and Jimmy. They suffered….battled…..endured so much. During the race I started cramping 20 minutes into this 6 hour race. The cramps continued for most of the race, traveling from one area of my body to another. I just tried to focus on the moment…..just get through 10 more minutes, then 10 more. Push hard and remember that those battling cancer and their families and friends are suffering much more than this.

Now it is Irv. Our kiting bro Irv. He finished 2nd last year in kb4c and this amazingly after just finishing treatment for oral cancer. I saw him a few months ago and he said it was back. He had to have more surgery and would need chemo and radiation treatment. I saw him last week at the blowout start and he said this was one of his first times to the beach after spending the last 15 days in bed due to being so ill from his chemotherapy. He looked tired, but upbeat and determined.

So this year I will kite for Irv. He can’t compete this year but I can. I will push harder and never give up. When I get tired I will say “just one more lap.” When I get hungry I will say “I’ll eat in a few more hours.” When I feel the intense pain and more cramping I will say “this is nothing, just push hard for a few more minutes, then a few more hours.”

lastly there is jeremy. a windsurfing and skiing buddy. a fighter. we lost him two weeks ago to liver cancer. a great loss. he has left a young daughter. he was kind and generous. a great guy.

This is why I do it, why I must do it, why I hope you all do it. And if you don’t compete, please volunteer your time or money.

remember who we are fighting for.

pray for lots of wind.

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

just got this email from one of my close friends last night. another friend to fight for.

Hi,

I’m forwarding this in hopes it will help a family in a very tough situation. I also know Aaron; his wife, Dani; and their 8 year old daughter and 5 year old son. Just to expand on Molly’s email below, Dani has recently found out that her breast cancer has spread to other parts of her body after discovering a lump following a mastectomy 2 years ago. They are originally from the Sun Valley, Idaho area and came to Oregon so Aaron could pursue his dream of becoming a chiropractor. He only has a few months left to graduate and part of that graduation date is determined by his ability to complete the 100 remaining appointments. They don’t know very many people in Oregon, so it has been hard for Aaron to fill his appointment book. Plus, he’s trying to juggle school, taking his wife to her appointments, and taking care of his 2 amazing kids. Dani is desperate to get back to her friends and family back in Sun Valley, but unfortunately they don’t have medical insurance yet. Aaron has to graduate first and then get a job in Idaho (he has one lined up at a small clinic, but insurance is still uncertain). We’ve asked them what we can do to help out. The only thing they asked for is help getting him graduated. I know for sure they can use a lot of other things, but this is top of mind for them. So please, if you can take some time out and set up an appointment, that would help a great family in need. It’s out in Gresham and I know it may be far for some of you, but if you could fit it in, they will be greatly appreciative. Please be sure to ask for Aaron Stern when you set up the appointment.

Thanks for taking the time to read through this,

My-Hanh

Hello All,

I am writing on behalf of a dear friend of mine whose family is going through a very tough time. His name is Aaron Stern and his wife Dani, who suffered breast cancer two years ago, was just diagnosed with stage four cancer, which basically means there is no cure and she really has no idea how long she will live. Their house and home is in Hailey, Idaho and they very much want to return there, but Aaron is in his last semester at Western Chiropractic School and to graduate he has to see 100 additional patients at the schools clinic. This can be 10 patients 10 times or 100 new patients.

So PLEASE if you have every thought about seeing a chiropractor or have never thought about it and just want to do a good deed go see him. You MUST ask for Aaron specifically or they will send you to the first intern available. The initial exam is $20 (usually $80 at other places) and takes approx. 1.5 hours. It is a complete history, exam and treatment if needed. Follow up visits are 30 minutes and are more focused.

I wouldn't normally send out a mass email of this sort, but these are good people who really need help! They have two small children and want to return to their home as soon as possible!

School information:

Aaron Stern

900 SE 132nd Ave.

Portland, OR 97230

www.wschiro.edu

503-255-6771

Aaron is at the clinic Tues./Thurs. 1:30 - 6 pm and Wed./Fri. 7:30 - 1 pm

Please forward this on to anyone and everyone you know!

JW · Since 28 Jan 2006 227 Posts portland Stoked

I have known Irv for 5 years, and in those five years we have become best friends. He has watched my kids grow and helped me get sober and I have seen him and Sabrina bring their son into the world. We love two talk about busnies and where we will be in the years to come. We share the same passion for the finer things in life. We kiteboard together all the time where ever it is windy - no matter the time of year, or how cold it is. It is hard to keep us off the water. Irv and I both competed in KB4C last year, and Irv placed 2nd after having one cancer surgery - what a defeat! Now after one year since his original surgery, Irv has cancer again, and had to have yet another surgery. After the second surgery, he, Sabrina and their son, Ari, had to move to Texas for treatment for 9 weeks.

I am participating for KB4C in honor of Irv. My goal is to win it for him this year, and his goal is to do 1 lap at KB4C. Irv has returned from Texas, and looks great after 1 week home. He got the ok to go kiting, is making steps towards a full recover, and is concentrating on his heath.

Thank you for taking the time to read this - it means a lot to me. I hope you can help out by donating to a great cause. go to kb4c.org and click on athlete and I am in there under jason wynn

Jason Wynn

JW · Since 28 Jan 2006 227 Posts portland Stoked

this is the bottom of my race board for team Irv

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

Nice post! Congrats on your weekend win endoshred-- Maybe another win is around the corner for all of us.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

I have been trying to donate on the kb4c athlete page and cannot.... i've forwarded the errors to info@, but can whoever is doing the web site please fix it? You're missing out on donations.

Edit--*fixed... i was choosing the pre-selected $25 button... I selected 'other amount', and the transaction worked perfectly.

Bettyboarder · Tue Aug 04, 09 8:30 am

Great Post...

On a side note Corey donated his prize from The Blowout win to KB4C. Donate what you can every bit helps.

See you all this weekend.

Pepi · Tue Aug 04, 09 10:34 am **Go TEAM IRV and Scotty Edgar!!!!!!!**

Jason Wynn, Nate Appel, Anna Weber, and myself are Team Irv, representing 2nd Wind Sports and Urban Flora, along with a team formed by Scott Edgar, in honor of our friend and local kiter Irv.

Last year Irv competed in the KB4C event and finished 2nd overall, kiting all day without a break(as Jason and Scotty stated, this was all immediately after recovering from just winning a battle with cancer). This year, Irv is battling again, having just completed surgery this Spring and Chemo treatment this Summer. Irv is currently working on getting strong enough to kite with us again soon, but for right now, we are kiting for Irv. Our teams will be on the water representing and being inspired by Irv, and in return we hope to both show inspiration for Irv's recovery and raise money for finding a cure for cancer.

On a personal level, I will be also competing for family and friends that have battled cancer : For my mom, Jean Gerald, who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. For my cousin Carol, Mother-in-law Ann and friend Jessica who each successfully recovered from cancer treatment this winter and are each now healthy and all clear of any signs of cancer.

I was going to say something about trying maybe win this year, but I think that you all have more to worry about in keeping up with Jason and Scotty this year.
I shall have to just refocus my alternative goals at wiping the slate clean with Mr Barnes (shall we go strapless again?).

Mark · Tue Aug 04, 09 10:37 am

"strapless"

Is there any other way? Wink

Sella · Tue Aug 04, 09 11:36 am **FLY STRONG**

Great post Shred. There is nothing better than KB4C to bring out the true spirit and stoke of how kiting can impact someones life.

Really looking forward to riding with all the ribbons flying strong this weekend.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Great stories here. I wish everyone luck. I was also going to really push to win this year, but I think after going non-stop for the last two years, I want to try to kick som OG butt strapless. We definitely need a strapless category

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

Well, wanted to share in the stoke.. NICE WORK KB4C CREW!

Always a great event and a great time..

Unfortunately we can't make it this year, but I'll be cheering you guys on..!

like Sella said, what a great reminder of what we can do for the cause!!!

We just lost a close high school buddy from home who passed away weeks ago from cancer..
RIP DJ!! old and young cancer is real and effects us all!

BTW....strapless skim will take it Cool

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

anyone who can go 8 hours without a break during the race on a strapless skim should get a prize.

Pepi · Wed Aug 05, 09 2:37 pm

Slaker · Since 29 Jul 2008 41 Posts Â

Question, and don't take this the wrong way, but with the same amount of money raised couldn't we save a lot more people who are starving or suffering from already curable diseases? What is the point of advancing medicine when most people that need it can't afford it?

I'm on the fence on the issue and am just looking for some education and different perspectives. Keep it clean please.

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

windslayer · Since 30 Apr 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Slacker.....understandable and a fabulase thought.....however, this is for an incurable disease at the moment, that alot o people are pationate about. Perhaps it would be nice to have another kite type event to raise money for the hungry or diseases that are cureable but cost, as you mentioned. i will participate. Very Happy