Tranquility. What an appropriate name for a sailboat sailing on behalf of breast cancer patients!

Like other C36 owners sometimes do, Sandy Bes, owner of S/V Tranquility, donated a cruise on her boat as an auction item to support a charitable organization. Generosity of this kind wins a thousand or more dollars for the charity, and is an unselfish way to leverage a love for sailing into help for others. With her guests, Sandy was sailing off the auction prize when she was met on a neighboring buoy at Blake Island.

Sandy is an IT specialist in the Seattle area, and bases her Mk I Catalina 36 in Eagle Harbor, on Bainbridge Island. She loves her boat, and says that her weakness is boats, even though her boyfriend’s weakness is airplanes. "But he's being converted," she says.

Breast Friends is an organization devoted to improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients, “one friend at a time”. Checking out their website at www.breastfriends.com, I learned that they are a grantee of the Susan G Komen for the Cure Foundation. Breast Friends is based in Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest, but are emerging from a regional to a national clientele.

Among their great programs is one called H.A.T.S, which stands for Healthy Attitude To Survive. This program provides pink ball caps to patients who are experiencing the devastating effects of hair loss due to chemotherapy. The caps’ logo is a woman with a rabbit, asking “Has Anyone Seen My Hare?” The hats have proven to be a way to add an element of humor into an otherwise difficult situation. Breast Friends believes the hats will help women heal through laughter, and they are provided to women in need at no cost.

30Aug2009