Surfing legends will hang ten in La Jolla for the UCSD Moores Cancer Center Luau and Longboard Invitational
The 18th annual Luau and Longboard Invitational, sponsored for the fourth year in a row by Pfizer La Jolla, is back again on Aug. 21 with its not-so-black-tie fundraising event to benefit UCSD Moores Cancer Center. Proceeds from the event will go to the center’s cancer prevention programs, medical oncology trials, radiation oncology and social worker programs for patients. The day of fun in the sun will begin at 7 a.m. with a surf contest at the beach by Scripps Pier. Each company-sponsored team of four will be joined by a longboard legend ranging from world champions and founders of the sport to surf celebrities from “Endless Summer,” “Endless Summer II” and “Big Wednesday.” Following the surf contest, a luau will kick off with the blowing of a conch shell and Polynesian dance presentation on the beach. Guests will relocate to the Pawka Green at Scripps Institution of Oceanography where Waters Fine Catering will serve up a mouthwatering island buffet. Unique, health-conscious menu items include Asian fusion dishes such as a vegan Cantonese noodle dish and Korean barbeque. Live music from The Professors, The Duo-tones and Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue will provide island entertainment as guests munch on exotic island-themed cuisine. Opportunity drawings and live and silent auctions offer guests the chance to win original surfboards, memorabilia, surf-related art and trips for a good cause. The day will commence with a team trophy award presentation and presentation of the Rell Sunn “Queen of Makaha” award for the person who best embodies the “aloha spirit” in the fight against cancer. This year, Cory Reynolds and Taylor Peterson, event chairs for the invitational, have worked in a yearlong effort with nearly 30 members of the committee and 100 volunteers to ensure the fundraising event is a success. “There’s quite a lot of fun to be had at the event,” said Reynolds. “Even if you’re not into surfing, everybody likes to enjoy San Diego on a beautiful afternoon.” The Luau and Longboard Invitational began nearly two decades ago by John Otterson and Sam Armstrong, two young men who wanted to hold a fundraising event for Moores Cancer Center in a less-black-tie formal, more relaxing aloha-style party. Despite the concerns that an informal fundraising event would not succeed, the duo was able to raise $25,000 for the cancer center in its first year. “This is the only surf event where we have a valet, but people show up in shorts and aloha shirts,” Reynolds said. Since 1993, the annual Luau and Longboard Invitational has raised more than $5 million to support Moores Cancer Center, one of the top centers in the nation in conducting basic and clinical cancer research, providing advanced patient care and serving the community through outreach and education programs. Reynolds, a business development manager for Manpower, was first enticed to get involved with the invitational in 1996 from his love of surfing, but his dedication to the fundraiser gained a new meaning when he was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago. Reynolds said the uncertainty of “not knowing who was going to raise my family” was his biggest concern. Today, Reynolds is in remission and takes just one pill a day. “You would never know that I had cancer three years ago,” he said. “I found out through the hard work of the people at Moores Cancer Center and Pfizer, there are treatments available for cancer patients and you really can live a full life. This is just one way for me to give back to the industry that really saved my life.” Tickets to the luau are $150 and VIP tables, seating 10 people, are available for $2,500. The surf tournament is free to the public for viewing. For more information about sponsorship, volunteer opportunities, team entries or to purchase tickets, visit www.longboardluau.org or call (858) 534-6797.