Paddle For A Cause Raises More Than $96,000

More than 100 Participate In The 9th annual Paddle For A Cause Presented by J&L Amish Depot ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation had its most successful event to date, raising nearly $100,000, at the 9th annual Paddle For a Cause presented by J&L Amish Depot on Saturday, June 11. The foundation has collected a little more than $96,000 in donations with funds still being counted according to the board’s treasurer Kristi Collins of Somers Point. Each paddler was required to raise $200 to participate in the event. “It was truly an amazing day at the Golden Nugget. I am very proud to be part of the single biggest fundraising event in the history of the Dean Randazzo Cancer foundation. I am so proud of hard work and dedication that so many of the volunteers have done for the foundation,” said Past President and Race Director Paul Giunta of Somers Point. “The wind made for some challenging conditions but overall everyone was safe and we raised a lot of funds that will benefit people with cancer.” Second-place standup paddleboard finisher Sven Peltonen of Atlantic City, on left, congratulates Quintin Chiapperino, 19, of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on his win in the 22.5-mile Paddle For A Cause presented by J&L Amish Depot. Jonathan Baker of Egg Harbor Township was the top fundraiser, bringing in more than $9,000 while Karen Grant of Margate helped raise just more than $8,000 to be the second-place finisher. Mike Hutchings of Mount Kisco, New York, raised the third most with $7,700. Ryan Matthews of Asbury Park, New Jersey was the first overall finisher with a time of 4:07:25 and won the prone division. Quintin Chiapperino, 19, of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands won the 22.5-mile standup paddleboard race and took second place overall with a time of 4:07:46. Chiapperino beat out three-time winner Sven Peltonen of Atlantic City by a mere seven seconds and Matthews finished 9:30 ahead of last year’s prone winner, Brian Pasternak of Ocean City. Winners in the 22.5-mile race were presented prize money provided by J&L Amish Depot at the awards ceremony and after party; $1,000 for first, $500 for second and $250 for third in three different divisions; Men’s and Women’s 14’ Stand Up Paddle and Unlimited Prone Paddle. Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation Ambassador Richard Nugent of Margate and Past President and Race Director Paul Giunta of Somers Point award Quintin Chiapperino, 19, of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands with a $1,000 check for his win in the 22.5-mile Paddle For A Cause presented by J&L Amish Depot. See TheDRCF.org for more information.