On Labor Day weekend 2011, Chris Traverse won his third Medford Boat Club Senior Championship despite an “injured” left arm. The race would prove to be the last of his sailing career. Chris’s left arm had been braced and plaguing him with diminishing strength throughout the summer. Unbeknownst to anyone but Chris and his physicians, he had been diagnosed with ALS in July. True to his nature, he refused to allow the physical or mental challenges of an ALS diagnosis stop him from leaving everything he had on the water that day. Throughout his life and sailing career, Chris has displayed strength and courage in the face of adversity, humility, faith, drive and an unselfish love for those around him. After an accomplished youth sailing career, Chris returned to MBC with his own family, to teach his daughters, Elyse and Jamie, to sail. Both daughters were winners ofthe N-10 National Championships. In 1993 Chris was asked to volunteer as Head of Sail and revitalize the Junior Sail Program. He immediately launched the idea of attracting beginner sailors by convincing the club to purchase 8 N-10’s, making sailing accessible to any child regardless of their family’s ability to buy a boat. He ultimately expanded the program to over 100 sailors comprised of beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Chris possesses an innate talent for simplifying complex concepts into manageable pieces and works tirelessly, with a lot of humor, to reach each child in any pursuit. He emphasizes that sailing is about so much more than racing: building self- confidence, independence, strategic thinking, determination, endurance, patience, sportsmanship and most importantly having fun. He received the most gratification from “seeing kids accomplish something they thought they couldn’t”. Chris never restricted his encouragement and knowledge to MBC juniors and was committed to growing the N-10 fleet. His goal has always been to give back freely what had been given to him. As a result, he has bestowed these gifts to countless sailors in the Greater Boston area and in the process has become beloved by so many parents, children and fellow sailors he has touched. Please join us at the Medford Boat Club on July 26thto celebrate Chris and his fight to end ALS by participating in the Traverse Regatta to Benefit ALS Research (registration link to be posted in the next few days). All proceeds from the Traverse Regatta will go to ALS-TDI anonprofit biotechnology organization dedicated to developing effective treatments for ALS. To donate directly to ALS-TDI, please donate here on the community page! (To volunteer at the event please send an email totjdarty1@aol.com). Event:Traverse Regatta to Benefit ALS Research Date: Saturday, July 26, 2014 Location:Medford Boat Club Fleets:Opti, N-10, Laser, 420, Snipe Skippers Meeting:9:15 am Last Gun:4:30 pm (Lunch on shore and post-race snacks and hospitality included) |