Standup for the Cure holds CL paddle board event

BY Amanda Martilla

Unable to hold larger events because of COVID-19 restrictions, Canyon Laker Mary Jaramillo decided to take things into her own hands and put on a smaller event in Canyon Lake.

As they made their way around the main lake, Jerry Jaramillo captured this photo of the paddleboarders passing Sunset Beach. Photos by Jerry Jaramillo

Standup for the Cure is an organization that raises funds and awareness for breast cancer, while celebrating active and healthy lifestyles. Every year since 2012, the organization has hosted a paddleboard event in Newport Beach as well as other locations like Florida, Michigan and Washington. This year, due to the pandemic, these large gatherings had to be canceled and many were able to only participate virtually.

Mary and a group of about 15 friends took their paddleboards out onto the lake Friday and held their own Standup for the Cure event. The women, dressed in pink, met at Moonstone Beach and then went on a full lap around the main lake on their paddle boards and kayaks.

Mary Jaramillo, a Canyon Lake breast cancer survivor, organized a paddleboard event and created a GoFundMe, so that she and her friends could participate in Standup for the Cure virtually.

Breast cancer awareness is especially important to Mary because her mother passed away at the age of 50 due to breast cancer, she said. Then, in 2014, Mary was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is considered the earliest form of breast cancer. Although this condition is noninvasive, Mary chose to receive a bilateral mastectomy due to her family history.

“I do this for my family and friends,” Mary said about Standup for the Cure. “Awareness is key and an early diagnosis is a lifesaver.”

Across the nation, individuals and groups showed their support for breast cancer awareness and early detection by exercising, whether it be through yoga, paddling, biking, running or other activities, and then posting their photos on social media using the hashtags #2020virtualSUFTC, #SUFTC and #keepstandupafloat. Jerry Jaramillo, Mary’s husband, was the designated photographer for the group of Canyon Lake supporters.

A group of about 15 Canyon Lake women participated in Standup for the Cure Friday by paddleboarding and kayaking around the main lake. In addition to promoting exercise, the purpose of this event was to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer.

In addition to promoting physical activity and solidarity, the purpose of Standup for the Cure is to raise money for local organizations that screen, educate about and treat breast cancer. Mary created a GoFundMe team called “Still Standing Up” to help contribute. 100% of the donations will go towards SUFTC. For more information, contact Mary Jaramillo on Facebook.

Two of the women in attendance, Janelle Basham and Kimberly (Kimbo) Slingerland, are also breast cancer survivors. In 2008, the two of them revived Bosom Buddies, a Canyon Lake organization that supports women facing breast cancer within Canyon Lake. Bosom Buddies was originally founded in the late 1980s by Carolyn Knight, Cathy Zaitz, Margaret McCoy and Linda Johnson. Bosom Buddies’ website is www.clbosombuddies.com.