Personal Fundraisers
Individual Fundraisers for the benefit of the David Andrew “Pooh” Maddan Foundation:
Several individuals and groups have held fundraisers to benefit the DAM-Cancer Foundation over the past two years. The Foundation wants to express its sincere appreciation to each and every one of them and to recognize those individuals that are helping us realize David’s dream of eradicating cancer and helping young adult cancer patients survive.
If you are interested in holding your own individual fundraiser for the Foundation, please contact Kathleen Maddan-Blackmore at kmaddan@DAM-Cancer.org. Remember, every little bit helps the Foundation get closer to David’s dream of eradicating cancer.
2nd Annual Mary’s Pizza Shack Dine and Donate 2010
Amelia (Millie) Brenner organized the 2nd annual dine and donate at Mary’ Pizza in Rohnert Park. The restaurant now wants to hold a donation dinner as an annual fundraiser for the Foundation. Thank you, Millie, for making it happen!
2010 Crow Canyon Sharks Swim-a-thon
The Crow Canyon Sharks (USS Swim Team) held their second annual swim-a-thon fundraiser for the swim team and donated a portion of the proceeds to the Foundation. They were able to double their 2009 donation. Way to go Sharks!
Mystery Machine Benefit Concert
After a ten year hiatus, the Mystery Machine came back and put on an amazing benefit concert! Jake Bunch, Jeff Lupo, and Mo Sardella reunited to play as they did during their school years in Santa Barbara. Proceeds from the concert went to the foundation. Thanks to all who came to support the cause!
Hilton Head Aquatics
The Hilton Head Aquatics (USS Swim Team) coached by David’s brother Jack Maddan created a one of a kind t-shirt with the Grateful Dead Bears dancing around the Poohstrong logo, sold the shirts and donated all the proceeds to the Foundation. Yea for HHA!
Dillon Williams’ Pasta Feed
Dillon Williams hosted a pasta feed fundraiser for the Foundation for a crowd of a 100 people in the Williams family home in May for his 8th grade community service project. Dillon, who now swims for the Crow Canyon Sharks, and his sister, Devon, both swam for the Crow Canyon Sea Lions where David was one of the coaches. Devon, who had an amazing relationship with Coach Dave, entertained the group with the premier performance of her band the Doll Revolution.
The Williams family explained the reason that Dillon chose the Foundation for his service project, “There is not a day that goes by that our family does not think about and miss Dave. We thank all of you for creating this foundation and allowing all of us to put our sorrow to great use.” Hooray for Dillion and the whole Williams Family!
Swim Clinic with Olympian Natalie Coughlin
Dan Cottam and Ethan Hall, coaches of the Crow Canyon Sharks, and Olympian Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, held a Swim Clinic at Crow Canyon in May. More than 50 swimmers participated in the one-day clinic, and all the proceeds of the clinic were donated to the Foundation. A special thanks to Natalie, Dan and Ethan!
Red Deer Marathon
Kathleen Maddan-Blackmore, David’s sister who lives in Edmonton, Canada, ran a marathon as fundraiser for the Foundation in May in honor of her brother. In Kathleen’s letter requesting donations for the marathon for the Foundation, she wrote: “Each day has been a difficult one since David, otherwise known as Pooh Bear, has been gone, and each day I think about him and how I can keep his memory alive. It took me a couple of months, but I decided one of the best ways to do that was to challenge myself and honor him at the same time. I have decided to run a marathon as a tribute to David. My marathon is now known as the DAM (David Andrew Maddan) Marathon. In my training over the past three months for this event, I have had a lot of time to think about what David had gone through. Even on those days when it was -30F, I knew that I needed to keep going because I know David, who was so full of life, had kept going even when he wanted to stop.”
She continued saying, “David had to endure his own marathon with cancer, which was nothing less than trying, grueling, and unbearable at times. Pooh lived quite an incredible life, being a positive influence on countless people, and he still had so much more he wanted to accomplish after he was finished with cancer. He wanted to begin a foundation that would make a difference in lives of young people who were going through the same situation.” A round of applause for Kathleen!
Mary’ Pizza Shack Donation Night
Amelia (Millie) Brenner organized a donation night at Mary’ Pizza in Rohnert Park and raised over $1,800- the largest donation night ever. The restaurant now wants to hold a donation dinner as an annual fundraiser for the Foundation. Thank you, Millie, for making it happen!
San Francisco Marathon
Kris Arneson, who said she was inspired by Pooh, ran her first marathon, the San Francisco Marathon, on July 25th. She wrote in her letter requesting donations for her for the Foundation that she wanted to run a marathon in Pooh’s name so that he would know, “that the way he lived his life made a difference to me and that I will never forget his courage or his optimism.” Let’s hear it for Kris!
Vineman–Ironman Qualifier
Sarah Gibson competed in the Vineman in Sonoma County on August 1st as a fundraiser for the Foundation, although she had been battling a nasty flu. After the triathlon, Sarah shared the following: “The most moving part of my race was my jersey. The front said ‘Tri for POOH” (David’s nickname was pooh-bear) and the back said ‘Fighting Cancer for David’. People sometimes laughed when they read the front, but soon people were yelling Go POOH!! Do it for David!’ All over Sonoma County people yelled out, ‘Tri for POOH!” and “Fight for David”. I know in some wonderful way that makes the legacy of a true Ironman, David Maddan, carry on.” Thank you Sarah, a true Ironman!
Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon
Millie Brenner excelled in the Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco as a fundraiser for the Foundation on September 13th. Millie wrote in her letter requesting donations for the Foundation that, “There ‘s always going to be that person in your life that will walk with you through the hard times and the good times, teach you and show you new things in life. That person will show you how to enjoy life as it is and live it to the fullest. That person will show you that you can conquer anything you put your mind to and bear the unbearable! Pooh was that person for me……No one will ever fill your spot, Pooh…as my ‘brother’, my friend, my “roomie”, my mentor and all my laughs! No words can express how much you, Pooh, have impacted my life! I miss you, and I love you sooo much Pooh Bear!”
Congratulations, Millie!
2009 Crow Canyon Sharks Swim-a-thon
The Crow Canyon Sharks (USS Swim Team) held a swim-a-thon fundraiser for the swim team in April and donated a portion of the proceeds to the Foundation. Way to go Sharks!
If you are interested in holding your own individual fundraiser for the Foundation, please contact Kathleen Maddan-Blackmore at kmaddan@dam-cancer.org.
Remember every little bit helps the Foundation get closer to David’s dream of eradicating cancer.