Putting Wind in Their Sails

Favorable conditions awaited the passengers of R.A.C.E.’s on their first voyage of 2011, which took place this past Sunday afternoon. Like the smiling children lined up to enjoy an afternoon out on the water, the perfect weather was a Godsend–a miracle, which came just in time to dispel the gloom cast by several months of turbulence and uncertainty.

As explained on their website, “R.A.C.E. (Remission and Cures Everywhere), Inc. is a group of experienced boating enthusiasts who are dedicated to providing a way for people with cancer and their caregivers to enjoy Long Island Sound by boat.”  This is their second year in operation, and the number of sails they have planned for this season far exceeds that of last year–they have 22 sails scheduled for 2011.  R.A.C.E. is partnered with Schooner Inc.–another non-profit organization–and offers free two-hour sails for patients, families, and their caregivers.

Branford resident Melissa Nicholson, founder and Executive Director of the program, invited me aboard ship to see what it was all about. R.A.C.E. was founded in memory of Nicholson’s brother, Brad Nicholson, an avid sailor, who succumbed to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2008. Click here to learn more. 

I stood on the dock at the Long Wharf Pier in New Haven, observing The Schooner Quinnipiack, the vessel that sponsors R.A.C.E.’s main objective: getting people who are dealing with cancer out on the water for a relaxing afternoon at sea.  The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps turned my attention to two small girls, sprinting up the dock, laughing. One of the girls looked very familiar, and as I struggled for her name, a quick glance at the other girl gave it to me.  Her shirt read: “Camdyn’s Crew,” and bore the likeness of little , whose face I had only seen in flyers around the Branford, until then. Dunn, who is a third-grader, was this past November with an aggressive form of stage-3 Lymphoma.  But you would never have known that, judging from the radiance emanating off her face. She is doing better today thanks to her mother and those who support her at www.camdynsfund@yahoo.com.  Though each day is a triumph, today was clearly a day for her to be happy.

The two girls became quickly involved in checking out the Schooner, their excitement welling up like the waves beneath us. Dr. Gary Kupfer, who is the head of Pediatric Oncology at Yale New Haven Hospital, approached the crowd, and, bypassing parents and crew, made a beeline for little Dunn, who broke into an immense grin at the sight of her caregiver. Funny banter ensued.

Other passengers began to arrive for what the calendar had listed as “the Yale-New Haven Hospital Pediatric Oncology Family Sail.”  Like Camdyn, most of the passengers were heart-wrenchingly tiny, but their smiles were some of the biggest I’ve ever seen, and they only grew larger as we filed, one by one, onto the boat.  The children were accompanied by their biggest supporters: their parents and siblings, also laughing.

Nicholson introduced me to the crew as we waited for the rest of the passengers to arrive.  The Schooner Quinnipiack can accommodate up to 40 passengers and Sunday’s manifest appeared to be pushing that number. Nicholson also explained that the remaining scheduled launches are booked solid.  After some brief–and humorous–safety instructions from Tommy, one of the ship’s captains, The Schooner Quinnipiack launched from the pier out into the Long Island Sound, while passengers and crew applauded.

This gave me a moment to ask a few participants where they were from and how they’d heard about R.A.C.E.  One of the families explained to me that they were from Shelton and had learned of the program through their daughter Sarah’s social-worker, Erica Harmelech, who works with Child Life.  Erica was aboard The Quinnipiack, laughing, entangled amongst the children.

When we had reached a moderate distance from the shore, the captain invited all hands on deck to help in raising the sails.  Kids gathered at the lines, and, when ordered to do so, began to hoist the mainsail.  I joined, and in moments was amazed at the energy these kids had.  I was winded by the time they cleated the first line, whereas the kids couldn’t wait to do it again.  The process was repeated to raise the fore, staysail and jib.  With wind in the sails, the ship began to pick up speed, and we moved out onto the Sound.

It was amazing to watch these children come together, unified by tragedy, but strengthened by their each other’s company.  Fast-friends were being made, and intensity abounded.  I managed to snap a photo of Dunn and her friend, Mikayla Brown–both students at –who paused long enough to tell me how much they were enjoying themselves.  I spoke to Dunn’s mother, Rachel Dunn, whose laughter chased her daughter up and down the deck.

“She’s quite the spitfire,” Rachel said of her daughter.  “It amazes me, the kind of attitude she has.  Her friends amaze me.  We went to New York on the train, and Camdyn had to wear a mask.  To be a good friend, so that Camdyn didn’t have to do it alone, Mikayla wore one also.”

Brown’s love for her friend is the very kind of support that helps keep R.A.C.E. participants sailing through troubled waters.  Like the patients aboard the schooner, R.A.C.E. is energized by the support of others, and the ship stays afloat with the aid of organizations and personal donations, which keeps the experience cost-free for participants.  I had already met the good folks at Schooner Inc., so I turned to some of the other passengers, curious as to who was aboard.  I had the luxury of speaking with Michele Kupfer, Dr. Gary Kupfer’s wife.  She explained how Yale Pediatric Oncology is very supportive of R.A.C.E.’s goals.  We sat, watching her husband interacting with the kids, and I was able to see her words in action.

As R.A.C.E. promotes the physical and mental health of cancer patients, the organizations that support it travel in the same wake, that is to say: they are also advocates of good-health.  Nicholson introduced me to Kate Walton, a R.A.C.E. board member, also from Stop & Shop Nutrition Initiatives, who supplies the passengers with healthy snacks throughout the sailing season.  I observed Walton hauling a treasure-chest sized bin, brimming with delicious (and nutritious) edibles for the kids and their families.  Walton informed me that it is the goal of Stop & Shop Nutrition Initiatives to promote healthy diet, which compliments R.A.C.E.’s goals of overall health.

“You have to bring good nutrition to them,” she explains to me, “Good health is what it’s all about.”  

Another of R.A.C.E.’s shipmates include In-Shape Fitness Center, who is helping them sail into their 2011 season by offering a with classes held at the gym on May 14 and 15, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (classes open to members and public for these two days, only; donations are welcome).  One of many ways you can show your support is by signing up for one of these classes.  The schedule of classes will be on In-Shape Fitness Facebook page and .

Michael Krause, a member of ’s Board of Education, was also aboard The Schooner Quinnipiack, brainstorming possible ways by which the education community of Branford can become involved in supporting R.A.C.E.  He envisions a High School student helping to create an interest as a “Senior X” project, and getting young people involved through community service.

Other supporters are Camp Rising Sun a camp for kids who have been diagnosed with cancer and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is also a proud supporter of R.A.C.E.

As we began to cap off the second hour of our trip, the captain called everyone together to help lower to sails.  One by one they were brought down, and the motors taxied us towards the pier.  Captain Tommy announced that we were going to signal our arrival to the dock, and asked everyone to cover their ears.  He launched a tiny flare, to the amusement of everyone on board.  “The two-hour respite,” as R.A.C.E.-ers call it, was exactly that.  Throughout the time that we spent aboard, there hadn’t been a shred of grim-seriousness, only carefree happiness.  It was as if the world’s troubles had been left onshore, while those aboard cast off to be healed by water.

This serenity followed the passengers as they exited the vessels, and made way to their cars in the parking lot.  As I walked towards my car I saw Dunn and Brown in the backseat of theirs.  They stopped to roll down the window and wave to me, and I found that I couldn’t help but smile also, and wave back.  I began to pray: for Camdyn, for R.A.C.E., and for me to find the words to tell you, reader, that to have so many hearts riding on just one gives it the strength to keep beating.

After the sail, I spoke to Rachel Dunn who wanted to thank Melissa and her R.A.C.E. team for being that type of support:

“If it weren’t for all the amazing support of everyone, I never would have been able to care for Camdyn and be right at her side through all of her treatments.  I thank everyone for their kindness and unconditional support.

“Events like R.A.C.E. help Camdyn feel like there is normalcy in her life: that she can be part of something, when normally she has to be isolated due to her counts or treatments.  It gives her hope and makes her smile.”

R.A.C.E. is holding a Mother’s Day Fundraiser Sail on the Schooner from 3 - 5 p.m. on May 8, weather permitting, in honor of mothers and caregivers everywhere (tickets are $25 per person).  For more information, please call Melissa at 203-988-5254.