Scott Gamble is a lot like his cousin. “He was an ocean guy … loved surfing, paddling, fishing. Loved Hawaii.”
But two rare sarcoma cancers, angiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, cut short the life of Scott’s cousin, Dodge Ackerman. Sarcomas occur in connective tissue, including muscle, bone, fat, nerve, cartilage, and blood vessels. Dodge was only 22 when he passed away from sarcoma.
This year, Gamble signed up with the Ocean of Hope team, which raises money for the Sarcoma Alliance. The national nonprofit group has a blog, discussion board, live chat room and peer-to-peer network. It helps start sarcoma support groups and provides financial assistance to patients seeking a second opinion from sarcoma specialists.
“I joined O2H because I wanted to help spread the word about their amazing cause,” says Gamble, 33. “I am sure both my cousin and his family would have benefited greatly from the resources that O2H and the Sarcoma Alliance now provide.”
O2H captain Aimee Spector of Redondo Beach, Calif., announces that the team will have at least six paddlers in the Molokai to Oahu race. The other five are from the Los Angeles area.
Last year, Gamble finished third at Molokai and looks forward to challenging himself again for the top position while building awareness for the Ocean 2 Hope Campaign. Scott also won the 2009 Dukes Hawaii Championships and placed 2nd at 2010 Battle of the Paddle Distance Race.
Because he lives in Honolulu, he says, “the Molokai crossing means a lot to me. It is both a mental and physical test …very grueling, yet rewarding at the same time. It is a great opportunity to not only cross one of the most prestigious channels in paddling, but also meet all the great watermen and women that enjoy the sport of standup paddling as much as I do.
“I got into standup about two years ago and I have been hooked ever since. I really enjoy downwind distance paddling because it combines two activities that I love: paddling and surfing. Standing on a board versus sitting in a canoe gives a whole different perspective to understanding the water.” This year, crossing the Channel will have even more meaning for Scott as he raises money for the Ocean of Hope.
For more information about sarcoma, or to meet other paddlers on the team, go to www.sarcomaalliance.org/oceanofhope
Scott Gamble, team member
808-349-4352
Aimee Spector, Ocean of Hope Team Captain
310-374-0084
www.active.com/donate/outriggerO2H2010/aimeespector
Sarcoma Alliance media kit:
http://www.sarcomaalliance.org/News/news.shtml
