|
Let's Make-A Wish come true for Trent.
As most of you know Maureen McKinnon-Tucker and Nick Scandone won the Olympic trials to represent the US in the paralympic Skud class. The Skud is the Sportsboat class in the Olympics and it is being raced by sailors who have a severe disability. One can only stand in awe of these athletes. Maureen's husband and coach, Dan Tucker is co-skipper of the Viper "Rattler". Last month while Maureen was in Miami training for the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, Dan and Maureen recieved a call with the dreadful news that their two year old son Trent had collapsed, been rushed to hospital, diagnosed with a brian tumor, and was going into surgery. Within two hours they were on a flight back to Boston. The updates and prognosis can be found on a webpage devoted to Trent's health http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=trentmckt&extrefid=tlcinvite (If you cannot click through this link, please copy and paste the entire URL into your browser's address ) . You can send messages of support on the carepage site. There is also a forum on our website where you send your support. The Viper fleet has been wonderful in its moral and emotional support for Dan, Maureen, Trent and Trent's sister Dana. This is a family that is very close to our hearts. There is hardly a participant in last year's North Americans who did not trip over Trent at some time as he played around the dry sailing area. Maureen is still going to the Games. Now, more than ever, I ask that we give them some material support. There is a fun party that will result in funds going to Maureens campaign this Tuesday at The Landing. If you cannot attend but would like to help in some other way, please feel free to contact Dan or myself. Dan writes:- " As you know, despite all that's happening , Maureen is currently intending to continue on the road to Beijing for the Games in September. We feel that it's important to show Trent and Dana that life goes on in the face of adversity. We feel that giving up the Paralympics would be conceding a battle to cancer that it has no business in winning. We intend to kick cancer's butt, and one important way to do that is to not give it even the most minor victories. We feel this is the right decision for our family, at least for now. Maureen's regatta & training schedule will be at the whims of Trent's chemotherapy schedule and it will be difficult to make plans for that more than a week or so in advance, and even then it will be subject to last second changes!
All that as it is, we're still having the sailing fundraiser at The Landing in Marblehead next week, Tuesday February 12th starting at 6:00 PM. No auctions, no arm twisting for donations (well, maybe a little!). Just a great night out, $20 for a buffet including Seafood Newburg and Goslings soaked pork. Live music from Little Sister Band. We're hoping for a huge turnout, and counting on all of our drinking, errr... SAILING friends to come eat, drink, dance and party with us. The campaign will receive 20% of the gross receipts from the night, including the bar. So carpool with designated drivers! ;)
This event also kicks off our Golden Glass Initiative, a summer-long fundraiser conceived by our friend, winemaker and Etchells sailor Ed Barker. The Landing (and hopefully all the area yacht clubs and more restaurants) will donate $1 to the campaign for every glass of his ranga.ranga New Zealand Souvignon Blanc sold between now and the Paralympics. This is a huge deal!
Maureen and Nick just dominated at the Miami Olympic Classes regatta like no other US Olympic or Paralympic sailor (even after Trent's brain surgery and the death of Nick's father-in-law). I don't think it's at all a stretch to say that they are the USA's best chance of winning a sailing gold medal in China. Please forward this message to your fleet members and encourage them to turn out at the Landing on Tuesday for a good time, that will provide some much needed cash to help the campaign. Please RSVP if possible by email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
. RSVP not required, but helpful for the restaurant, we don't want to run out of anything!"
Please spread the word! Thanks.
Justin
|
