Sail 4 Cancer host on the water day for Massachusetts cancer patients

by Henrietta Aitken on 2 Sep 2010 Sail 4 Cancer and Officine Panerai hosted several Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center patients on the beautiful modern classic yacht Valiant, owned by Marblehead resident Gary Gregory to commemorate the first-ever North American Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge circuit last month; this sail represented the first of many 'respite' days that cancer patients in Massachusetts will enjoy through the efforts of Officine Panerai and Sail 4 Cancer. The patients, Greg Vrettos, Rick Abrams and Elizabeth Duggan were joined by several family members for a day of respite and healing on the open waters surrounding the breathtaking Marblehead Harbor.

Through this program Officine Panerai will provide cancer patients of all ages and their carers relaxing and restorative days of sailing on beautiful vessels throughout the 2010 sailing season, in both Marblehead and Nantucket. This is being done in an effort to bring a broader exposure to the local physicians and researchers caring for afflicted patients, and to also give back to the communities which host the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge each year.

On Sunday, August 8th, Officine Panerai hosted a brunch at the Corinthian Yacht Club on Marblehead Neck to celebrate the partnership with Sail 4 Cancer and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Dr. Lori Wirth, Medical Director, Center for Head and Neck Cancers at MGH, and Dr. Paul Busse, Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology at MGH, were on-hand to discuss their clinical work with patients and how 'normal life' activities such as a day of sailing can make a positive impact on the patients and their families, at a time when it may be needed most.

Dr. Busse shared with the group that they are dedicated not only to treating the source of the cancer, but also to working with the ailing patients to 'give them their lives back.' As an avid sailor himself, he added, 'It is truly a unique experience to be on a beautiful vessel on the water that is powered by a natural source – the wind – to feel the helm on your hands and have your mind engaged in a peaceful activity that for even just a moment relieves you from your troubles. To be able to give my patients this sailing experience is amazing.'

Dr. Lori Wirth added that 'there is a real mystery to the ocean and how a sail boat works. This is a great experience for my patients – one that I feel will bring them much enjoyment and relief.'

Rick Abrams, a throat cancer patient, stated, 'There are days and weeks that I don’t feel so well, and days and weeks I’m feeling great. Today I feel great!' Elizabeth Duggan’s husband Owen shared with his fellow sailors how important it is, as a carer, to make sure that his wife gets out of the house now and then, to actively participate in life, in spite of her treatments.

Sail 4 Cancer’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and their families who have been affected by cancer. Sail 4 Cancer offers a variety of sailing experiences for individuals and their families, thereby giving them the opportunity to relax, escape the clinical environment and enjoy a few hours in the clean, fresh, healing air of the sea in the hope that their quality of life may be improved.

Richard Groome, Operations Director for Sail 4 Cancer, explains that, 'It is our goal to help improve the lives of people living with cancer. We want them to forget about their stress and spend quality time with loved ones far removed from hospital and their treatment. We find these trips boost people’s confidence and give them a more positive outlook on their lives.'

Celebrating the sixth year as the leading sponsor of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, Officine Panerai invited Sail 4 Cancer to collaborate with them on this year’s Corinthian Classic Yacht Regatta (August 6-8; Marblehead, MA) and Nantucket Opera House Cup (August 13-15; Nantucket, MA) with the means to, in some small way, improve the lives of residents of these passionate sailing communities who partner with Panerai to host the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge annually.

News of the event even made it as far as the famous and prestigious Times Square billboard in New York City and a second ione in Las Vegas, as the following headline appeared along with a photo of the trip: 'MGH cancer patients on first-ever Officine Panerai / Sail 4 Cancer 'respite' day'.

www.sail4cancer.org