Hospice Cup: A regatta with a cause

Friday, Oct. 2, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by CAROL HARVAT Sailboats start off in the Chesapeake Bay east of Annapolis at the 28th Hospice Cup, a regatta and fundraiser for nonprofit hospices. Calvert Hospice was one of the beneficiaries of the event. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo

Sailors and crews felt the wind in their sails on the Chesapeake Bay out of Annapolis last Saturday while they competed and raised funds for the 28th Hospice Cup, an event labeled America's largest charity regatta.

The Hospice Cup's regatta and shore party afterward raised money for five area hospices, including Calvert Hospice in Prince Frederick this year. A nonprofit organization, Hospice Cup was started in 1982 and has raised more than $8 million for nonprofit hospice care in Maryland, Virginia and the Washington, D.C., region.

Since the event is held in Hospice of the Chesapeake's backyard, Lori Phelan, public relations representative for the organization, said it is keyed into the event wholeheartedly. The cup brings serious racers who have participated in an America's Cup race and casual sailors, who registered for the Hospice Class, many of whom took on hospice caregivers as crew, she said.

Nurse for Calvert Hospice Lynn Goldwasser, who rode on one of the sailboats, said the experience gave her the opportunity to share about hospice from a caregiver's perspective.

"I had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed myself," she said.

Goldwasser rode on a 27-foot boat named "Pacem," meaning peace in Latin. She said she was "very impressed" with the two women who sailed the boat.

Goldwasser also attended the shore party where she said she "met a lot of nice people afterwards. … It's nice to see everyone come together for a good cause."

Guests at the shore party, held on the grounds of the Atria Manresa overlooking the Severn River, nibbled on an abundance of shrimp, crab, oysters, salmon and sushi or an Italian sausage like might be found at any county fair. A band, with the men dressed in Irish kilts, played a variety of familiar tunes from the 1950s through the 21st Century.

The event's honorary chair, Erwin E. Abrams, president and CEO of Hospice of the Chesapeake, said "Hospice Cup is one of those remarkable outpourings of support for community-based, not-for-profit hospice. I want to thank the communities for supporting us."

Lynn Bonde, executive director for Calvert Hospice, and all the volunteers are wonderful people, Abrams said.

According to a press release, 75 sailboats participated in the regatta and "more than 350 sailors, sponsors and hospice caregivers attended the post-regatta shore party … helping to raise almost $200,000 through individual and corporate sponsor donations, along with the annual live-auction."

The boats competed for several sponsored trophies that were awarded for both exceptional racing and special fundraising achievements. This year's sailor fundraising brought in a record amount, with more than $18,000 raised online alone, the event's press release stated.

The race, sanctioned by the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association, followed racing standards in its course scoring rules and presented trophies in 12 classes, and, for the first time this year, included a junior sailing regatta.

"Today was one of the perfect sailing days you can get," said Julie Phillips-Turner, Hospice Cup public relations liaison and board member. It was a typical fall sailing day, said Phillips-Turner, who sailed on a boat in the regatta.

Each hospice markets the event in its area and comes up with ideas to fundraise for it, said Janel Muir, Calvert Hospice media manager.

"We all came together. We are all raising money for the same purpose," Muir said. The event has been charitable to Calvert Hospice for many years, but not many boats participate from Solomons, and Muir said despite the distance to Annapolis, she hopes that Calvert sailors will consider the event in the future.

"It's good to be involved in a big event," Muir said.

Similar to Relay for Life, each boat raises funds as a team and several businesses and individuals sponsor the event each year. Sponsors, donors and invited guests viewed the races from a luxury charter boat that supplied lunch, cocktails and race commentators who talked about race maneuvers and boat positions during the race.

More funds are collected at the shore party through ticket sales, raffles and a live auction which got bids for original art, vacations and even a private ride in a classic plane.

The funds raised on behalf of Hospice Cup help pay the expenses not covered by Medicare or private insurance. These dollars enable the hospices to provide skilled compassionate care, comfort and dignity to the terminally ill, their families and friends. Net proceeds are disbursed to the participating hospices on a pro-rated basis, according to a press release.

Along with Calvert Hospice, this year's event benefited Capital Hospice, Hospice of the Chesapeake, Montgomery Hospice and Talbot Hospice Foundation. For more information, go to www.hospicecup.org.

charvat@somdnews.com