The Third Annual Twenty One-Mile Paddle With a Party to Follow
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28 million people have cancer. Those 28 million have 3 family members. Each family member has 10 friends who are affected. Those ten friends share their story about cancer with 2 others That means that 1.68 billion people are impacted, many in need of need of mental health support.
The Flatwater Foundation is proud to announce the success of its 3rd Annual Dam That Cancer event presented by Tyler’s on Monday, June 4, with all proceeds to benefit the foundation. Mark Garza and Rob McKinnie, two Austinites touched by cancer, created the 21-mile dam-to-dam stand-up paddleboard event to spread the message that mental health is vital when overcoming a cancer diagnosis.
Garza, a local Marketing Executive and Event Producer, was driven to put his professional background to use for this cause when hearing about his father’s diagnosis of stage-4 prostate cancer. He said, “It goes beyond those that receive a diagnosis, cancer changes the lives of family and friends too. My father’s diagnosis hit me hard and I felt helpless until now. Dam that Cancer is my stand against this ominous killer and a way to spread our message.’
The 2012 event raised $130,000 in donations for the Flatwater Foundation with a group of around 75 supporters trekking 21-miles from Apache Shores on Lake Austin to Hula Hut at Tom Miller Dam on stand-up paddleboards. Participants had to raise at least $1,500 in donations to paddle with the group.
Dam That Cancer had a celebration after the paddlers completed the 21-miles at ‘Hula Hut’ with a music stage in the parking lot, food and raffle prizes. Raffle prizes included a vacation house stay in Ventura, CA, a vacation house stay in Steamboat, CO and a couple of stand-up paddle boards valued at $2,000 each.
More About This Charity
Region
South
Category
Best New Charity
Name
The Flatwater Foundation
Mission
The Flatwater Foundation is dedicated to providing those diagnosed with cancer, their families and loved ones access to mental health therapy and family support. This includes access to traditional methods of psychological counseling, as well as an integrated approach to wellness via access to yoga, meditation, group exercise and personal training.
Impact
- This Achievement raised $130,000
- This charity raised $135,000 in the past year
- 23 families and individuals put into long term counseling and psychotherapy programs, and yoga programs.
Works In
United States
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