Register for the Freeze Online today!!

It’s that time of year to support a great Cause and freeze your ass off doing it! The 5th Annual Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation Freeze for a Cause is going down on Saturday, February 18th. The contest will be at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, NJ starting at 10:00 am sharp and will run until 3:00 pm. Slots are going to be very limited this year. There will be 3 divisions for the Freeze this year Open Shortboard, Open Longboard, and Open Womens. It’s highly recommended that you sign up early to reserve a slot for this event so you don’t get left out in the cold! The entry fee/donation is $20.

After the contest come out and join us for a raging after party at the Crab’s Claw in Lavallette, NJ hosted by the Hammer Family starting at 6:00 pm. There will be great raffle/auction prizes and drink specials. There is a $10 donation to get you into the party of the winter. If you want to go big a $20 donation includes a official DRCF Freeze for a Cause Tshirt! We hope to see everyone there and thank you for your continued support of the DRCF.

Check out our post from lasts years successful event here!

ATTENTION ALL SUP/PRONE PADDLERS:

The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation is proud to announce the date for our World Paddle Association (WPA) sanctioned and overall incredible Fifth Annual Paddle for a Cause. This is a 22.5 mile paddle around Atlantic City Island (AKA Absecon Island in southern New Jersey), which will be held on June 16, 2012. It will commence at Golden Nugget Marina (Farley State Marina) and will include an amazing after-party, discounted suites at the casino for participants, prizes, a silent auction, live music, food, open bar and so much more! Register now at dojiggy.com by clicking the above image, or, Contact Paul at 609-927-9244.

We encourage you to register as soon as possible and get your personal fundraising campaign with our webpartner dojiggy.com started.

This easily customizable fundraising web site will allow you to build a personal fundraising page, set your financial goal, link to your social network, and get the word out! Your commitment is what this 22.5 mile race around Absecon Island is all about! A minimum of $200.00 is needed for entry, but we encourage you to raise more, highest donation raised by paddlers will claim a special prize! (word on the street is it’s a big one!)

Check out what past competitors have to say about this event:

Jamie Moran:

“…the paddle was amazing. It was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done in my life both mentally and physically. I had never paddled anywhere near that distance in a straight shot before and didn’t know what to expect. I was a little nervous at first but just decided I would give it a go and just take it one stroke at a time. Knowing that no matter how challenging the paddle would be it would never amount to a fraction of the challenges Dean has been through with cancer gave me the confidence to sign up and push off the shoreline. Then seeing the camaraderie between everyone out in the water made things that much easier. It was honestly one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life having completed it and completed it in good time.”

Andy Carter:

“The Paddle for a Cause was one of the most grueling, yet rewarding things I’ve ever participated in. It’s just as much of a mental battle as it is physical. Throughout the 22 miles you start to lose your mind a bit, hitting a number of walls along the way. Staying properly fed and hydrated while taking it one mile at a time helped me push through those mental barriers. Pulling up to the dock at the end of it all was a euphoric feeling. You’re totally out of it: sun burnt, starving and stoked to have completed such a meaningful paddle.”

Mark Zappone:

“As a cancer survivor myself and as a surfer/waterman, it has be an an incredible feeling being a part of expanding the foundation–for example, Paddle for a Cause just keeps getting bigger and better each year, and to be a part of that is nothing less than an awesome experience.”

Dean Randazzo:

“It was a great event. I didn’t paddle last year but I supported everyone from one of the support boats. Its great to see the support and determination of the paddlers to help raise money for a great cause. I’m really looking forward to this years Paddle for a cause, its going to be bigger and better than ever.”

El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship
October 23, 2011
La Libertad, El Salvador

The USA won the Eduardo Arena ISA World Team Trophy. The final day had contestable 3-to-4 feet waves under amazingly clear skies at a beach packed with local and international fans.

Team USA’s debut in the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship proved to be more than successful. They are taking home the Team Trophy, the Kahunas Gold and Silver Medals won by Tom Curren and Jim Hogan. Also Grand Kahunas and Women Masters Copper Medals were won by Allen Sarlo and Alissa Cairns respectively.

The team also had Masters Sean Mattison and Jason Senn, and Grand Masters Dean Randazzo and David Giddings placing in top 16 positions.

Deans Quarter Final finish in Grand Masters helped contribute to Team USA's winning point total

Click here to view the embedded video.

11th Annual Surf for a Cause and Beach Fest Huge Success!!

The 11th Annual SFAC was a great day with sunny skies, four to five foot waves and over 400 spectators that came out to share in the event. This year was a huge success and with your help and support we raised over $24,000. All of the contributions will go directly to assist individuals battling cancer both financially and emotionally. With your support we have been able to donate over $195,000 in the fight against cancer.

We wanted to give special thanks to all the surfers, participants, judges, volunteers, sponsors, Lou and Barbara of the Greenhouse, Tom O’Brian for donating the trophies,Margate Public Works Department, City of Margate, DRCF board members, and everyone who came out to support the 11th Annual Surf for a Cause!

Thanks so much, we couldn’t do it without you!

Special Thank you to Jake Zlotnick for making the DRCF Belmar Pro Ad and Surf for a Cause Event Video.

Click here for Awesome Video of the Event By Jake Zlotnick

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click Here for Pictures of the event

Thank you to all of our sponsors who helped make the 11th Annual SFAC a successful event!!

The 4th Annual Paddle for a Cause was held on June 12, 2011 with a record turn out of 74 Partcipants.

The event started and ended at the Farley State Marina at the Golden Nugget and was blessed with almost perfect conditions for the 22.5 mile paddle around Absecon Island.

Just as the founder of the event, Mike May, had intended it, this is one tough track and even tougher with the just slightest bit of Jerzy soup in the ocean. However the rough downwind ocean portion of the course gave way to a beautiful back bay paddle into a light breeze and (just to make it the real deal) against the tide!
Graham Parker in the prone division was the fastest out of the entire field coming in at 4h26m. Right behind him in the Stand up divison was Mark Temme coming in at 4h26m.

Margo Pellegrino in the Stand up Divison won a the womens division with a outstanding time of 5h17m. Coming in 2nd was Stepanine Shideler with a time of 5h56m.

This year’s winner Gram Parker stayed on course to finish in a time of 4 hours 22 minutes. I’d like to share a quote from Gram in the AC Press that sums up the mission of all who made the journey; “Today we went through pain for four hours. If you have cancer, you go through pain for years.”

As a reward for all who paddled the foundation hosted, which are now becoming somewhat legendary in these parts, an incredible after party on the Deck at the new Golden Nugget. Party goers and paddlers were treated to great live music and enough food to feed an army!

The event raised over $20,000.00 with donation still coming .The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation will use the proceeds to help people financially battle cancer.

WINNNERS CIRCLE

Prone up Divison
Graham Parker 4h26m
Bill Webster 4h35m
Billy Auty 4h38m

Men Stand Up Division
Mark Temme 4h31m
Billy Mehl 4h40m
Sean Duffy 4h56m

Women Stand Up Division
Margo Pellegrino 5h17m
Stephanie Shideler 5h56m

Click Here for Stand Up Results
Click Here for Prone Division Results

The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation will be holding the 8th Annual “Golf For A Cause” on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the Mays Landing Golf and Country Club in Mays Landing, NJ.

“10 years ago, Dean Randazzo was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma,” said Founding Board Member and Event Chairman, Adam Walcoff.  “10 years and 4 relapses later, Dean is in remission, healthy and surfing stronger than ever. Passing his good fortune on, we are blessed to be able to serve our goals through the generosity of our thousands of supporters. With the support of the Board, our loyal volunteers and participants, the 8th Annual Golf For A Cause is going to be the biggest and most successful in our history,” he said.

“2010 was a real emotional year for us, having lost three of the people we helped in the past,” said Dan Cellucci, President of the DRCF, speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees. “We know that no amount of money is going to cure the individuals we help, we simply want to make their struggles easier by not having to focus on finances as much while they are battling cancer. We are extremely sorry to have lost these great people and want to honor their memory by raising awareness and helping others,” he said.

The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation is a New Jersey Non Profit and 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. The Foundation was created in 2001 when New Jersey Professional Surfer, Dean Randazzo was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. Since successfully battling the disease four times, Dean continues to proudly represent the Garden State all over the world.

Donations to the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation are used to fund cancer research, promote cancer awareness and assist individuals battling cancer both financially and emotionally.

The Golf for a Cause is a scramble golf tournament with lunch before and a BBQ after with live entertainment, an amazing raffle and a fantastic time. Entry fee for the golf tournament is $100.00 per player and includes greens fees, a gift bag and event t-shirt, lunch, BBQ dinner and more. There are also many different levels of sponsorship opportunities available on the form.  For more information, contact Adam Walcoff at (609) 641-8805 or visit www.deanrandazzocancerfoundation.org.

Download Sign-UP Form

4th Annual Freeze for a Cause a Huge Success

Seaside Heights, NJ – 2/8/2011 – The 4th Annual Freeze for Cause on 2/5/2011 was a huge success. The waves were small but the weather was just as we expected FREEZING!!

Surfers battled it out in 2 – 3ft waves, 32 degree water and cold freezing rain. The Mens division was won by Adam Walcoff who showed that at age 40 he still has the moves. The Women’s division was a thriller with Twin sisters Jessica and Casey Kwiecinski fighting it out with Jessica winning. The Long Board division was filled with talent and age. Sam Hammer won for the 2nd straight year defending his title and making the home crowd stoked

This years Freeze event saw three young groms who put on a heck of a show. Iron Man Kevin Budd from LBI surf in both divisions and made both Men and Longboard Final. Alex Brooks showed why he is someone to keep an eye on with his power turns and smart wave selection coming in 2 in the men’s division. Michael Vanaman the youngest contestant was turning heads with his off the tops and floaters that helped him earn 3rd in the men’s division.
Keep and eye out for these three!!
The Freeze was also rewarded with the outstanding performance off Jessica Kwiecinski, Casey Kwiecinski and Dana Palmeri. They battled it out in the freezing temps to show everyone that NJ girls can surf with the best off them.
Thank you to all of the surfers that came out.

Freeze for a Cause After Party Presented by The Hammer Family

The Hammer Family hosted the 4th Annual Freeze for a Cause Party at The Crab’s Claw Inn and what a party it was. The party was attended by more then 100 DRCF supporters who enjoyed the incredible raffle items, drinks, music and food. Scott Goodwin got the crowd fired up with the live auction of surfboards, art and wetsuits. Scott sure does know how to pump up the party on the mic. Thank you Scott for your support.

If you never have been to the Freeze for a Cause After Party you want to make sure you attend next years event because it is the best party of the year.

Shannon Hammer Korb – Hero to the DRCF

This years 4th Annual Freeze for a Cause huge success is the direct result of Shannon Hammer Korb. Shannon put her heart and soul into making this event the best Freeze for a Cause to date raising over $5,000.00. Upon arriving at The Crab’s Claw Inn everyone was blown away by the incredible raffle items that Shannon collected and the lay out of the 2nd floor for the party.

The DRCF Board of Trustee’s and the Dean Randazzo Family are so grateful to have Shannon Hammer Korb and the Hammer Family as supporters of the DRCF.

To honor Shannon’s dedication the board of trustee’s have officially named Shannon Hammer Korb an Ambassador of the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation.

THANK YOU to the Hammer Family for your support and dedication to the DRCF.

The Crab’s Claw Inn

4th Annual Freeze for a Cause Limited Event Tee Shirt
We still have Freeze for a Cause tee shirts availiable. If you would like a one of a kind event tee shirt click the link below and donate $15.00 or more and we will send of an event tee shirt while supplies last.

Click Here to Make a Donation

Instructions:

Please send us an email at info@thedrcf.com when you have made a donation and porivde us with your email, name, mailing address

(CNN) — The cold has cleared the sunbathing crowds from New Jersey’s beaches, yet the freezing temperatures won’t keep some surfers out of the water.

They have grown up with “ice cream headaches” — the painful ache when you eat something cold too fast — they are the surfers from New Jersey.

“I’ve had times when icicles form in my hair,” says surfer Andrew Gesler.

Even the smallest waves will have the hardcore surfer walking over the snow-covered sand to take advantage of the power of the chilly Atlantic Ocean. For years, professional surfer and cancer survivor Dean Randazzo has been among those in the frigid waters, wearing a full wet suit, hoodie, gloves and booties.

“You just deal with your surroundings,” says Randazzo, “if you love something so much you just keep doing it.”

Randazzo kept surfing year-round and it paid off in 1990 when he started making a living off the ocean. Early in his career at contests around the world, he would often be asked, “Are there waves in Jersey?”

As filmmaker Alex DePhillipo shows in his newly released surfing documentary “Dark Fall”, not only is the surf good in New Jersey, but there are a lot of good surfers in the state.

The movie credits Randazzo, a New Jersey native, with proving that East Coast surfers are worthy contenders.

“He has absolutely paved the way for any surfer that wants to become a professional from New Jersey,” says DePhillipo.

Randazzo now just started his own line of surfboards.

Gesler — the narrator of “Dark Fall” and a professional surfer — concurs, “Randazzo is our big brother, coming from New Jersey you don’t have a lot of people that have made the impression that Dean has.”

It was the impression of a surfer and a state that took years for Randazzo to change. The money to be made in surfing comes from sponsors, appearances and editorial photographs. Only a few in the profession make enough money in surf contests to support themselves.

Randazzo became a professional surfer in 1990, yet he still couldn’t find a sponsor to support him. A sponsor pays the athletes to use or wear their product and they usually pick up the expenses incurred when traveling to contests. Randazzo couldn’t find a sponsor to believe in him, no one wanted to get behind a surfer from the Garden State

“I had to win money,” recalls Randazzo, “there were places on the tour when I wasn’t eating if I didn’t win money in that contest, or I didn’t have a plane ticket home.”

Winning money meant winning contests and in 1996 Randazzo became just one of 44 surfers to qualify for the World Championship Tour.

“Somehow I managed to do that with no sponsorship,” says Randazzo, then dryly adding the word “barely.”

He also managed to put credibility into the New Jersey surf scene. “Dean has paved the way,” DePhillipo says, “There’s never been a surfer from New Jersey or the Northeast that’s made the World Tour.”

The success Randazzo has enjoyed is no surprise when you learn a bit more about this Jersey boy. Fighting to be respected in the surf scene was nothing compared to the four battles Randazzo fought and won against cancer.

It was in 2001 when he was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes.

“Everyone has their hometown hero, but in this case Dean’s just like a state hero,” says DePhillipo, “he’s even motivation for people who aren’t from Jersey because of his fights, his battles.”

When Randazzo isn’t in the water he uses his celebrity status along with the sport he loves to raise money for the Dan Randazzo Cancer Foundation.

Currently residing in California, Randazzo frequently returns to New Jersey. Not forgetting where he came from, the foundation sponsors an annual event called “Surf for a Cause” in his hometown of Margate.

“It’s just one of those events that everybody wants to support even if they’re not surfing, they want to support Dean,” says Stacey Marchel, a Jersey surfer and the owner of Stacey’s Surf Camp.

As the film “Dark Fall” points out, it is because of Randazzo that being a surfer from New Jersey is no longer, as he puts it, “like trying to be a professional snowboarder and growing up in Miami Beach.”

Florida doesn’t have snow but as captured in this new surf film, New Jersey definitely has waves. The state also experiences winter and that freezing season is what separates the surfing fraud from the fanatic. But as Randazzo or actually any Jersey surfer will tell you, the passion doesn’t waiver with the weather.

10th Annual Surf for a Cause Results

Super Groms Final	Boys Final	Mens Final
Greg Osbourne Beau Bruneau Pat Taylor Kyle Juliano Brno Barber Luc Santilli	Zack Greaser Sean Taylor Joey Toso Chris Mateer Kevin Budd Jack Loefflad	Jacques Beningo Alex DePhillipo Shane Matthews Ben Graeff Nick Rutkowski Matt Fineran
Masters	Grand Masters	Girls
Jacques Beningo Justin Casey Adam Walcoff Sean Duffy John Swift Dan Ginsberg	Tom O’Brein Paul Palitto Mark Neustadter Tim O’Brein Chrsi Baylinson Jim Bowdler	Abbey Ucci Jacklyn Perry Roman Barber Lily Swift
Womens	Longboard	Pro
Kara Borzillo Jessica Kwiecinski Casey Kwiecinski	Andre Funk Nick Rutkowski Jim Devereaux Paul Apsenberg Kirk Battles Mark Neustader	Zach Humpfries Ian Bloch Ben Graeff Andrew Geisler Shane Matthews Alex DePhillipo

Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation 5K

Place	Name	Age	Time
1.	Carl Ackerman	34	19:42
2.	Nancy Connolly	38F	20:11
3.	Steve Spitzer	39	20:39
4.	Joe Quirk	53	21:09
5.	Dan Campbell	49	21:20
6.	Mike Wiley	40	21:35
7.	Vincent Giunta	10	21:58
8.	Stacy Golinski	34F	23:14
9.	Josh Robins	10	24:39
10.	Julie Shock	36F	23:14
11.	Kate Juzwiak	24F	25:15
12.	Jeanette Cellucci	37F	25:31
13.	Mary Ann Ferry	50F	25:40
14.	Tammy Gluck	47F	26:41
15.	Peggy Robins	43F	26:59
16.	Tina LoBilnde	45F	27:51
17.	Theresa Palladino	46F	28:16
18.	Lisa Bee	45F	28:17
19.	Pat Goebel	63F	30:18
20.	Karl Goebel	66	30:19
21.	Patti Hankin	51F	35:00
22.	Susan Knight	45F	38:51
23.	Wayne Knight	46	38:52

SOMERS POINT – Some local members of the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation are planning on making waves while raising awareness for another worthy cause as they take their paddle to the Big Apple.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13 Paul Giunta and Joe Randazzo, both of Somers Point, and Carter Hanin of Margate will begin the 28-mile SeaPaddle NYC, a seven-hour journey around New York City to benefit the Surfers’ Environmental Alliance and Autism Awareness.

Giunta, vice president of the foundation, said this is similar to the Paddle for a Cause his organization does around Absecon Island, which is about 21 miles.  In fact, that’s how the two organizations hooked up as some who participate in the SeaPaddle have also paddled for the local cause.

“Stand-up paddle boarding has really taken off,” Giunta said Saturday, July 30. “It’s relatively new; every year it’s been getting bigger and bigger. The last three or four years I’ve seen it around here – five years would be a stretch. It’s in its infancy here but it’s big on the West Coast. Google it; there are stand-up pro series. People do it on rivers like the Colorado doing like white water paddle boarding. People are doing some cool stuff with it.”
Although typically seen on the beach catching waves, Giunta likes to train on his paddle board.
“I just throw an iPod in and go for a long paddle. For surfing, you catch the smallest of waves,” said Giunta.
Locally, their event has grown from 12 people the first year, to 24 people in 2009 and 50 participants this past year.
As part of the event, each of the men must raise at least $1,500 that will benefit the two charities.
Giunta, so far has raised nearly 90 percent of his goal, $1,500 with 28 pledges bringing him to $1,350.
Hanin and Randazzo were both late to signing up, but are happy to join the cause.  Hanin, though, has already surpassed his $1,000 goal and is now at $1,152 from 25 pledges.
Randazzo just signed up Monday and has $50 toward his goal of $1,000 from three pledges.
“Twenty-eight – I don’t know what I got myself into,” joked Hanin Saturday. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but the nice thing is that the money going to autism awareness,”  he said of the event, which draws more than 200 participants and also has a 28-mile elite paddle race.
“We’re just trying to go up there and represent cancer foundation and paddle for a good cause,” Hanin said.

The men have been training by paddling a few hours a week and trying to build up their stamina for the endurance test, but it’s the third participant who Giunta and Hanin have reservations about.
“Joe just started training the other day, that should be interesting,” said Hanin.
Both Hanin and Giunta will be standing up on their boards while Randazzo will be on his belly atop a 14-foot paddle board.
“Some guys do prone (laying down) and go on knees. I did it in prone for the cancer foundation’s paddle and it kills your neck and shoulders,” said Giunta.
“They talked me into it,” Randazzo said with a laugh Saturday.
Randazzo said he likes to participate in charity events and doing something to support autism he feels is a true accomplishment.
Not unlike a kayak, the lay-down paddle board is tapered and is partially hollowed padded space where one would lay.
“I think it’s an advantage – it’s longer and faster than a stand-up paddle board. Still, its not an easy way to do it,” Randazzo said. “This board you can’t kneel on, it’s like a torpedo.”
While the other men will bring water with them and tape power bars on their boards, Randazzo’s has two built in cup-holders.
“It’s giving me momentum to get myself in shape. It will be a great feeling when I’m done – doing something for autism, the main thing. Ideally I want to do something good,” said Randazzo. “So many people help out with our foundation, this shows we can give back. What comes around, goes around.”
While the three representatives are in the Big Apple, the founder of their organization, Dean Randazzo, will be receiving the Waterman of the Year award.
“It’s a really big honor in the surfing community,” said Giunta. “It’s like winning an ESPY.”
To donate, see www.seapaddlenyc.org and click on the “Support a paddler” link in the middle. Then, click either “Make a Pledge” to search for a participant or click “Participants” to search among a list of all those paddling. Also see  www.deanrandazzocancerfoundation.org.
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