Aqua Mania Adventures’ Pink Sunset Sail raised over $3000 for Breast Cancer Awareness Foundations

By Kerry Biddle on 7th October, 2016

Friday October 7, 2016 – Simpson Bay, St. Maarten – The 2nd annual Pink Sunset Sail, organized by Aqua Mania Adventures as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was an enormous success. Over $3000 was raised by the event which is all being donated to the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations in support of breast cancer awareness. The donation was made possible by the generous contributions of all 180 guests, who bought many raffle tickets to have a chance of winning fabulous prizes donated by local businesses. Aqua Mania Adventures added to the amount by donating part of the proceeds of the Pink Sunset Sail tickets to both Foundations.

aquamania-1

Aqua Mania Adventures increased the fleet to 3 sailing catamarans this year: Tango, Lambada and Golden Eagle 4. Photo Credit @ Gary Brown

This year 3 sailing catamarans, Lambada, Tango and Golden Eagle IV sailed off into the sunset for this meaningful event. After last year’s success, Aqua Mania Adventures decided to add an additional boat to accommodate more people. “Last year we had to turn down a lot of people as we were sold out the week prior to the event. By adding another boat we didn’t have to disappoint anybody.” Said Michele Korteweg, organizer of the event. “Welcoming and boarding 180 people in a time span of 30 minutes can get really chaotic, but thanks to Aqua Mania’s fantastic staff it all went very smoothly and the boats left in time to see a spectacular sunset”.

Before boarding the boats, everyone was welcomed and organizers emphasized the purpose of the event: Generating awareness about Breast Cancer. The event functioned as a fundraising opportunity supporting the Positive and Elektralytes Foundations who are the driving force behind all Breast Cancer Awareness Programs on island. The funds that were raised will go towards generating awareness, but also make it possible to offer free screening opportunities for the month of October, free mammograms for those who can’t afford it, the printing and distribution of informative literature and the set up of support groups.

“Seeing all these people, all dressed in our Pink T-Shirts, was a very impressive sight. Everyone present cared so much about the cause and was proud to show their support. The amount raised for the local foundations is spectacular and we can’t thank our guests enough for making such an incredible contribution to this important cause.” Said Michele Korteweg from Aqua Mania Adventures.

aquamania-2

Aqua Mania Adventures welcomed over 180 people aboard the Pink Sunset Sail and through their generous donations, raised over $3000 for the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations.

The Elektralyets Foundation President Mercedes “Elektra” van der Waals-Wyatt was happy to see so many persons in attendance this year to the Pink Sunset Sail. “The participants were really excited, to see so many of them wearing pink shirts while the sun was setting was just simply amazing. By working with Aqua Mania Adventures we have bridged a gap and brought Breast Cancer Awareness to the Marine Industry of St. Maarten. It gave me a good feeling to see that the fleet was increased to 3 boats this year, which is an indication that we are slowly getting more persons involved in a creative and fun way and still bringing the message across of how important it is to get checked as early detection can save lives. Aqua Mania’s slogan that was chosen this year “TREASURE YOUR CHEST” was really resonated with a positive and clear message to the participants. Breast Cancer is a hard topic to discuss but through this creative activity it gives people a chance to talk about it in a relaxed, calm and fun setting.”

Once on board, people enjoyed a stunning sunset, pink mimosas, snacks and music while cruising the stunning coastline of St. Maarten. The highlight of the evening was the raffle MC’d by radio celebrities Soc, Elektra and Jenny. The raffle was made possible by donations from many local businesses. Lucky winners won hotel stays at the Simpson Bay Resort, Divi Little Bay Resort, Summit Resort, Westin, Oyster Bay Beach Resort and the Commodore Suites. Also many guests went home with a variety of gift certificates from restaurants, like Pineapple Pete’s, Sushiitto, Temptation, SkipJacks, Sint Maarten Yacht Club Restaurant & Bar, Escape, Ocean Lounge, Buccaneer Beach bar, Pat’s Roadside Grill, Greenhouse, Taloula Mango’s, Topper’s, Charterhouse and Karakter. There were also some jewelry items from Splash Jewelers, AMA Jewelers and Caribbean Gems, bicycle tours with TriSport, a gift box from Blue Water Rum, brunch at Infinity Restaurant, gift vouchers for Domino’s, Greenfingers, St Maarten Gondola, St Maarten Zoo and the Simpson Bay Pharmacy. There were also some remarkable donations, like the beautiful art donated by no other than Roland Richardson, handmade items by Carla Templeton and the printing of posters by the Mailbox. Back on the dock people were welcomed by Alan Sheppard, the piano player for the month of October at Red Piano. There, the leftover raffle tickets of all 3 boats were put together for the finale raffle. Lucky winners walked away with a tablet donated by UTS and a SUP donated by Budget Marine.

aquamania-3

Over 180 people enjoyed a memorable coastal cruise into the sunset, pink mimosas, snacks and open bar during the Pink Sunset Sail. The highlight of the evening was a raffle with a chance of winning fabulous prizes donated by local businesses. Photo credit @ Gary Brown

“Prizes donated by various businesses were really over the top this year and it was nice to see some of the sponsors also on the boats. New this year was the after party at the Red Piano and I would like to thank Drew and Alan Shepard for going all out with that PINK PIANO. I would like to thank Aqua Mania Adventures and for their continued collaboration in this way and I look forward to making the event bigger and even better to help bridge the gap between landlubbers and sea lovers as we bring the message of Breast Cancer Awareness to the island of St. Maarten to help save lives. Next year I look forward to ad yet another boat!” Mercedes “Elektra” van der Waals-Wyatt continued.

“On behalf of the Positive Foundation, thank you to Aqua Mania Adventures and the entire team of the Pink Sunset Sail including the Captains and Crew members. Thank you also to all the people who attended the event and to all the businesses that donated raffle prizes. Because of your tireless efforts and generous support – the 2nd annual Pink Sunset Sail event was a huge success. It was an impactful sight witnessing 3 boats with all its passengers dressed in their “ Treasure your Chest” pink T-Shirts leaving the dock. It is a great way for all of us to Be Breast Aware. Rebranding the “Red Piano” to the “Pink Piano” was awesome. We are truly grateful for the continued support and your belief in our breast cancer awareness call to action which is “ Feel it, Find it and Fight it!” added Positive Foundation President Shelly Alphonso.

The Positive and Elektralyets Foundations have a full calendar of events to raise awareness for breast cancer for the month of October. Early detection can save lives, therefore it is important to go to a clinic for a yearly screening and do regular self-examinations.

Aqua Mania Adventures is a water sports company with over 20 years of experience in the customer service industry and friendly and reliable staff that offers daytrips to all destinations (Anguilla, Saba and St. Barths), has all the toys for water sports and runs a professional and well established dive center.

The Positive Foundation, inaugurated in 1998, organizes month long, annual breast cancer awareness campaigns. Each year, in October, activities include public service announcements via radio & TV called “Women and Breast Health”, a breast cancer awareness run/walk challenge, free clinical breast examinations screens offered by our resident health care providers, public and private group information demonstration sessions on self-breast examination & the distribution of educational literature like” Breast Self-Examination Shower Guides” and “Women and Breast Health Handbook”.

ELEKTRA L.Y.E.T.S.: (Let Your Electricity Touch Somebody) is the basic core and fundamental reason for this foundation with the perspective that every person in this community can make a difference starting with themselves and in turn helping others through their virtues, gifts, talents and intellectual abilities.