The Organization

The Mission of KB4C

Kiteboarding 4 Cancer is dedicated to bringing the healing power of wind and water with the determination of the human spirit to those affected by cancer through funding of advocacy, prevention, and survivorship programs.

What We Do

Since 2007, Kiteboarding 4 Cancer has helped fund regional cancer advocacy, prevention, and survivorship programs. For 2010 we are excited to announce that we will be hosting our own wind and water survivorship camps for young adults with cancer. These camps aim to foster self-confidence and strengthen survivorship through kiteboarding, standup paddling, and other outdoor adventure skills. Read more about our survivorship camps on our blog.

It began from personal experiences with cancer.

Professional kiteboarding instructor and advocate for the sport, Tonia Farman, watched her brother, Scott, battle Leukemia for a year before he passed away in June 2007. For those 13 months, Scott braved chemotherapy, radiation, and clinical study tests that no human being should ever have to endure. Watching this, Tonia knew she had to do something.

Meanwhile, a fellow kiteboarder and pediatric surgeon, Garret Zallen, experienced cancer on a nearly daily basis at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Watching this awful disease take so much from a person, friends, and family, and recognizing that cancer is a common thread that unites our community, the two set out together to convert the feelings of helplessness into utilizing the passion, energy, and vitality in the sport we love – kiteboarding -- to do something good.

The result was Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C), a non-profit designed to sponsor kiteboarding fundraising events that donate proceeds to partnering cancer charities. In KB4C's first event on August 25th, 2007, kiteboarders raised pledge money for one of KB4C’s partnering cancer research organizations, then competed in an 8-hour endurance kiteboarding race on the Columbia River. Participating kiteboarders won prizes for most money raised for their organization, longest distance kiteboarded, top female and junior finisher, and best freestyle expression, because, after all — this is kiteboarding!

Kiteboarding 4 Cancer is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, IRS tax ID #42-1737854. We fund our event and charities solely through tax-deductible contributions from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Please join us in the fight against cancer. We look forward to your support as a sponsor in KB4C.

KB4C is In Memory of Scott Farman, as well as the many otherwise active and healthy individuals who fought cancer and are no longer with us.