Wappa Sponsors 2017 SUP Event to Fight Brain Cancer

3/9/2017

Wappa Sponsors 2017 SUP Event to Fight Brain Cancer

It is with great pleasure that Wappa is an official sponsor of On Board 2017. This 10K paddle boarding event raises funds for research to fight brain cancer.

On Board 2017 is the fourth year the fundraiser has been held. The event will be held on Sunday July 2nd, 2:00pm at The PenFinancial Credit Union Flatwater Community Centre in Welland, Ontario, Canada.

On Board was founded by twenty year old Madeline LeBlanc. She started the event to raise funds for cancer research in honour of her friends Julia Turner and Lynn Lambert, two friends she lost to cancer.

Madeline bought her first board and started paddling in 2012, after she fell in love with the sport at age ten. In 2011, Julia Turner passed away at fifteen due to a brain tumor and, earlier that same year, Lynn Lambert passed at thirty-seven. They were two wonderful people that deserve to be remembered because of the legacy’s they left behind. They were always giving back to others in the community and putting others needs before their own. They both taught all of Welland to treasure every moment of your life, and dedicate yourself to helping others when you can.

As a result of the young girls’ passings, Madeline created On Board. For the first event (held on July 10, 2014),she paddled 10 kilometres down the Welland Canal in a little over two hours to raise funds for brain cancer research. Creating On Board was her way of saying goodbye to Julia and Lynn, and also her way of giving back to the cancer community.

Madeline has continued to turn her passion of stand up paddle boarding (SUP) into a fundraiser to honour two friends lost to cancer. Madeline bought her first board and started paddling in 2012, after she fell in love with the sport at age ten. In 2011, Julia Turner passed away at fifteen due to a brain tumor and, earlier that same year, Lynn Lambert passed at thirty-seven. They were two wonderful people that deserve to be remembered because of the legacy’s they left behind. They were always giving back to others in the community and putting others needs before their own. They both taught all of Welland to treasure every moment of your life, and dedicate yourself to helping others when you can.

As a result of the young girls’ passings, Madeline created On Board. For the first event (held on July 10, 2014),she paddled 10 kilometres down the Welland Canal in a little over two hours to raise funds for brain cancer research. Creating On Board was her way of saying goodbye to Julia and Lynn, and also her way of giving back to the cancer community.

“But realizing how many people I’ve talked to after planning this event, cancer touches everyone, and it’s so sad. I think definitely this represents not just Julia and Lynn, but everyone struggling in Welland,” she said. “I think it’s pretty cool that you’re giving back by doing something good.”

When Wappa’s founder Layne Pennell learned about the great work Miss LeBlanc was doing, he became excited to get involved. As a cancer survivor himself, he was looking for a way to give back, and becoming a prime sponsor of On Board is a good start.
If you are in Southern Ontario on July 2, 2017 consider participating in this great event. Contact Madeline at On Board’s Facebook page to learn more.

For those who would rather make a financial contribution, the link to the Canadian Cancer Society is below:
http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/Thirdpartyevent/IFE_ON_CommunityPartnerships_?px=5796963&pg=personal&fr_id=22115#.WIFJPhSQbzK

Keep up the great work Madeline! Everyone on the Wappa team is excited to be a part of your fantastic fundraiser.