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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PADDLE WITH PURPOSE CONTINUES WITH Jodie NELSON AND LARRY THE WHALE RAISING OVER $125,000 FOR breast cancer AWARENESS
Rare minke whale followed Jodie as she became first woman to paddle nearly 40 miles as part of fundraising mission
(Dana Point, CA) April 12, 2010—Television host, Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) ambassador and former professional surfer Jodie Nelson has raised over $125,625 for nonprofit organizations Boarding for Breast Cancer and Keep A Breast Foundation as part of her Paddle With Purpose campaign.
On March 28, Jodie became the first woman to paddle 39.8 grueling miles from the island of Catalina to Dana Point. She finished in 9 hours, one minute and 21 seconds, all in an effort to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and prevention. 18 miles into the paddle, Jodie had a close encounter with a 30-foot minke whale she named “Larry.”
"This experience has been better than I could've ever imagined," said Nelson. "It has blown me away to see how many people this story has touched in such a positive way. I am in awe of the power of the Internet and media in generating word-of-mouth awareness."
Since the paddle, Jodie and Larry have been featured on dozens of broadcast media outlets including CNN, NBC Nightly News, FOX and MSNBC; and top online outlets such as Yahoo! and ESPN. With the help of Jodie’s fundraising efforts, donations to the cause have continued to grow.
"When Paddle With Purpose was featured on the home page of Yahoo!, we reached our $100,000 goal in less than 24 hours. I'm grateful for all the support and recognition so far and am excited to continue our efforts in the weeks and months ahead.”
Jodie’s experience will be featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” today and special “Larry” apparel will be available for purchase for a limited time. Visit http://ellen.warnerbros.com/ for broadcast schedule and www.freshpressed.com/paddle to learn more and contribute to the cause.
Paddle With Purpose is supported by Emergen-C Pink ®, which Jodie used during training to help prepare her for the endurance mission.
Jodie’s goal is to raise $2 million, and so far she has reached over $100,000. All funds go toward The Keep A Breast Foundation and Boarding for Breast Cancer. To donate, go to http://www.paddlewithpurpose.com
Editor’s note: Video and still footage of Jodie’s journey, the minke whale and heartfelt welcome by her family and friends is available upon request or by visiting http://tinyurl.com/ygj3wq6 or http://tinyurl.com/yeg48tv
About Jodie Nelson
Jodie Nelson gracefully walks the line between accomplished competitor and soul surfer. Her natural charisma, athleticism and commitment to surfing have made her one of the sport's best and most highly respected ambassadors. She has received praise for her on-camera hosting at the X Games, Fuel TV, and numerous webcasts, and has appeared on the pages of such magazines as Elle, Lucky, CosmoGIRL!, Seventeen and Jane. Jodie and a business partner recently started a company called The SUP Spot, which focuses on all things Stand Up Paddling. In addition to her surfing, Jodie is an accomplished photographer, an avid traveler and loves playing guitar and songwriting. She currently resides in San Clemente, California.
About The Keep A Breast Foundation (KAB)
The Keep A Breast Foundation™ is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support. Through art events, educational programs and fundraising efforts, we seek to increase breast cancer awareness among young people so they are better equipped to make choices and develop habits that will benefit their long-term health and well-being. keep-a-breast.org
The funds raised from Jodie Nelson's Paddle with Purpose will got directly towards a new campiagn that Keep A Breast is launching this fall called The Keep A Breast Non Toxic Revolution. Non Toxic Revolution's mission is to inform and educate young people about the dangers of toxic chemicals in our environment and food supply and their link to breast cancer initiation. Its aim is to inspire a focus on prevention as a means to maintain long-term health and well-being. NTR will also provide alternative choices so that all young people everywhere can make smart choices. The campiagn is designed by Shepard Fairey and will be able to launch this October, thanks to Jodie and Larry.
About Boarding For Breast Cancer (B4BC)
Boarding For Breast Cancer is a non-profit, youth-focused education, awareness, and fundraising foundation. Our mission is to increase awareness about breast cancer, the importance of early detection and the value of an active lifestyle. b4bc.org
The funds raised from Jodie Nelson's Paddle with Purpose will got directly towards expanding Boarding for Breast Cancer's educational outreach programming. At present B4BC's traveling educational booth make stops at over 60 premiere action sports and lifestyle events nationwide such as ESPN's Winter and Summer X Games, the Van's Warped tour and the US Open of Snowboarding and Surf. As part of our quest to educate as many young women (and men) as possible about this disease this support will help B4BC grow our high school and college outreach program. This grassroots educational program enlists the support of B4BC student ambassadors nationwide to help bring our educational message of early detection + active lifestyle = best prevention onto college and high schools campuses via health and/or sporting events.
About Alacer Corp, makers of Emergen-C®
For more than 35 years, Alacer Corp., based in Foothill Ranch, California, has been an industry leader and innovator in developing, manufacturing and marketing dietary supplements and nutritionally-enhanced products that support an energetic, healthy lifestyle. It produces over 400 million packets annually of Emergen-C, which is sold in health food stores, supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers and club stores nationwide. emergenc.com
Media Contacts:
Andrea Tagliareni, KURENT Inc. for Jodie Nelson/Paddle With Purpose
(310) 397-9025 andrea@kurentinc.com
Sarah Hardwick, Zenzi Communications for Keep A Breast
(858) 523-9020 sarah@zenzi.com
Dawn Hamilton, KH Public Relations for Boarding for Breast Cancer
(310) 295-1189 dhamilton@khpublicrelations.com
If you prefer to send a check.
make it payable to The Keep A Breast Foundation.
and be sure to note it's for PADDLE WITH PURPOSE
send to:
Keep A Breast
2251 Las Palmas Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92011
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO WITH LARRY THE WHALE AND JODIE NELSON