Four years ago Maria Baum’s world changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. To find solace during her diagnosis and subsequent treatment, Maria started paddle boarding at the suggestion of her close friend Richard Perry. Her passion for the sport led to the inspiration behind this annual BCRF event.
“Paddle boarding is a personal reprieve for me. As a breast cancer survivor, the sport gave me and continues to give me a much-needed outlet. Sharing it with others while raising funds for lifesaving research is my personal way of paying it forward,” said Maria Baum, who also serves as a BCRF Board Member.
In 2012, Maria and her husband, Larry, combined her desire to give back with her love of paddle boarding by organizing a small race and party in the Hamptons with the help of friends Richard and Lisa Perry. This year, the fourth annual Hamptons Paddle & Party for Pink held on August 1 raised more than $1.6 million, a record-breaking achievement. The two-part summer event was co-hosted by the Baums, Perrys, and Jackie and Bippy Siegal, with a morning Paddle Race in Sag Harbor and a Sunset Party at Fairview on Mecox Bay in Bridgehampton.
The community’s passion remained front and center with 200 paddlers including special guests Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton, Bethenny Frankel, and Jason Sehorn to name a few. Winners of the morning’s paddle race, including returning competitor and 12-year breast cancer survivor Karen McGlade, accepted their awards from Host Committee Members and race sponsors, Lisa Pevaroff-Cohn and Gary Cohn.
The evening event brought out over 600 special guests including Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracy Anderson, Matt Lauer, Jane Krakowski, Hilary Rhoda, Rachel Zoe and many more. Hailing from Hawaii, Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton shared a taste of their hometown with the evening guests—inviting a special performance by the Coppin Colburn Family, World Famous Hawaiian Fire Dancers. The soirée also featured an electric live performance by Grammy Award winning artist CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers and a music set by Brendan Fallis, internationally acclaimed DJ.
A major highlight was the auction of one-of-a-kind Laird Hamilton Standup paddle boards designed and signed by Donna Karan, Aerin Lauder, Tory Burch, Lisa Perry, Lisa Pevaroff-Cohn, Nicole Miller, Donald Robertson, Oprah, Bethenny Frankel and others. In addition, for the first time ever, guests were welcomed to support “BCRF Research In Bloom,” an interactive paddle board installation that bloomed with donations from the enthusiastic party-goers.
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