First Annual Pipeline to a Cure Florida Event a Success

Online, August 3, 2011 (Newswire.com) - This past weekend, the First Annual Pipeline for the Cure event was held in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The event was organized by Florida residents and parents of two children with CF, Rob and Krista Keller. The event was created to benefit those in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in order to find a cure to a disease that affects children's lives all over the world. For those who do not know what Cystic Fibrosis is, it is a disease that causes mucus build-up in the lungs and makes it quite difficult for those with CF to breathe. Doctors have come to the tentative conclusion that the salt water of the ocean actually helps break up that mucus in the lungs and makes it easier for those with the disease to breathe. Surfing has become a way to get those affected out to the beach and into the salt water. Close to twenty sponsors united together to promote this cause to the best of their abilities, and each brought different donations and activities that made the day one nobody will ever forget. East Coast Paddle brought their long paddle boards for the participants to teach on and use all day long. Crosswaves Surfing Ministries set up their tent and lent their help in teaching the children how to surf as well as providing strength and hope to all those involved throughout the day. Participants were privileged to be in presence of professional surf instructor Erie Peeples and his staff who came to be a part of the learning experience and lend their expertise on the art of surfing. Children were allowed to play in the water throughout the entire afternoon under supervision of the instructors. Sun Bum, DNA Energy Drinks, and Pipeline set up their tents as well providing sun tan lotion, surf boards, and cold beverages throughout the day as well as giving their time to such a great cause. Sponsors that also donated time, money and effort into this wonderful cause also include Korbin Burnsed Photography, Abbott Communications Group, Stuph Clothing, Tijuana Flats, David Maus, Quiksilver, Battery Tender, TS Racing, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Bashful Bliss, Big Dreamer, P1 Groupe, and of course Rob and Krista Keller who are also known as Team Keller. Providing lunch for the day's festivities were Beef O' Brady's and The Taco Shack. The Motorsports Marketing and Management Company P1 Groupe donated exciting beach games and their time to this wonderful event as well as giving all participants the privilege of meeting drivers Dion von Moltke, Bret Spaude and Tommy Milner. Von Moltke and Milner drive in the American Le Mans Series with Milner just winning the coveted 24 hours of Le Mans race in France. Spaude races in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. All took time out of their busy racing schedules to be a part of the glorious event.

"There is not a much better way to spend an off weekend from racing than surfing and when you combine that with a great cause like the CF Foundation, than it's almost a perfect weekend." Dion continues; "It was really nice to be able to work with the kids and see them enjoy life so much, and on top of that turn into some pretty good surfers!! The child I instructed, Tyler, was up and riding no problem on only his third wave!!!"

Spaude's comments on the weekend reached the same level of enthusiasm. "The Pipeline to a Cure event was awesome! I was very privileged to be a part of it. It is always very humbling to get out and help on events that is targeted towards kids and trying to help find a way to cure their illnesses. It was pretty cool to see forty to fifty surf boards with kids laying on them in the sand getting for their lessons and then to watch them all ride the waves at the same time. It was very neat."

The event was an overall amazing success. The day was dedicated to helping those with CF and to raise money and awareness to help find a cure to this horrible disease and those missions were achieved. Events such as these can be life changing, and they can make individuals stop and think about what truly matters in life and how they can make a difference in someone else's. The Pipeline to a Cure Florida event will become an annual occurrence in New Smyrna, and with an event like this the goal is to get bigger and better each and every year. There is no doubt that Rob and Krista Keller as well as all those who made this event possible will be working extremely hard this next year to come back with the best event possible because what is Pipeline to a Cure really all about, the kids.

Additional information may be obtained at www.p1groupe.com or at www.pipelinetoacure.org. All information on sponsors can be obtained on their respective websites.