The Epic Love Radio Show’s purpose is to share inspiring stories of love through action. By making connections with people who share these stories, we are expanding the foundations mission of heightening awareness of cystic fibrosis as well as fulfilling a deeper need to promote the positive.
Upon joining the show, I had no prior radio experience, no experience paddling, and was not familiar with cystic fibrosis and how it impacts people living with the condition. Fast forward ten months and I am a confident co-host, registered Crossing for a Cure paddler, and have been empowered with knowledge on the many ways a saltwater environment benefits those with CF.
My mission with this radio show is to continue making these deep connections with inspirational people in hopes that they will be as moved by our actions as we are with theirs.
Thank you, Travis Suit, for believing in me from the beginning and trusting me to deliver amazing guests each week. Thank you, Piper’s Angels Foundation, and the people involved for their hard work, love, and for keeping me motivated. You all are the reason this radio show has meaning and I promise to continue spreading our mission and purpose.
— Blair McKnight aka “Where’s Blair” – Epic Love Radio Show, Production Coordinator
Wow! What an amazing experience the Surf Expo in Orlando was. Not only was this my first time being at the Surf Expo as a lifetime surfer but it was also my first time being in a leadership role with the Piper’s Angels Foundation. I truly feel as if this foundation is not just a team in assisting families in the Cystic Fibrosis Community but the foundation is a family in itself…It is a family that I’m so happy to be adopted into!
Piper’s Angels Booth at the 2019 Surf Expo in Orlando
The week was a whirlwind of loading, unloading, meeting surf legends, being introduced to other amazing water based causes, and sharing exciting news of our “Salt Supply Program” with other amazing people in the saltwater industry that will really help make this program thrive for years to come! I truly cannot state how excited I am to be a part of this foundation and I look forward to making a huge impact in 2019.
Lastly, seeing people’s reactions to our Crossing for a Cure is something that never gets old because people get it! It’s all thanks to the hard work our crusaders do on and off the water!
Love all my Angels out there! Inspire Every Breath.
— Sean Kemper Tims aka “Salty Sean” – Director, Salt Supply Program
Over the course of my 24 years in the workforce, I had the privilege to work in some exciting industries. From the fashion industry, television, traveling the world, and creating an art gallery; to working in a tech start-up from birth to completion, real estate, freelance marketing and business consulting, I gained a plethora of priceless experiences and skill sets.
No matter how challenging, exciting, or unique my experiences were, I always felt a sense of longing- like there was something missing and incomplete. That is, until I started working here at Piper’s Angels Foundation. For the first time in my life, I wake up every morning inspired, full of purpose, and joy. Taking on this new leadership position as the Assistant Director has enabled me to utilize all my various life and entrepreneurial experiences to a greater cause and mission. I have heard, “When you’re working with the mission in mind and are able to see the impact of your organization’s impact in the community, your job is more than a paycheck”…This couldn’t be more true!
One of my absolute favorite job duties is working with CF families in need through our “Urgent Financial Assistance” program. In the last 7 weeks, we have helped 8 CF families with urgent needs. 5 of those families were less than 72 hours away from being evicted onto the streets with their CF child but we were able to stop that from happening. Nobody should have to choose between allocating their funds to keep a roof over their head or taking care of medical needs that will save them or their child’s life.
With the amazing army of angels that continue to sponsor and donate to our organization, I hope that we can help numerous other families this 2019 in their times of hardship by lifting some of that financial burden.
I am PROUD and HONORED to represent and be part of this amazing foundation…to be a “Piper’s Angel”!
– Aiyana Sugerman, Assistant Director of Piper’s Angels Foundation
I believe that inside each of us lies a fire waiting to be lit. It’s the fire of being selfless and charitable so that your actions to one degree or another may have a positive impact on those around you. My name is Sean Dunleavy, and I would like to share with you how I came to be the head of the logistics and planning team for the Crossing for a Cure and the Admiral of the Fleet.
Sean Dunleavy – Storytelling Night
To review some high school science for a moment, a fire requires three elements to exist: heat (a spark), oxygen, and fuel. The spark that started my fire of contributing to changing things for the better in the CF community came as unexpectedly as lightning when in the early spring of 2017, a friend that I had met 14 years earlier in college, called to say that he needed someone to keep an eye on things during the second installment of Crossing for a Cure. We have enjoyed many adventures over the years together and I don’t remember thinking long about jumping in to help. With a new title bestowed by Travis as Admiral of the Fleet, I prepared to help keep 12 boats organized and 33 paddlers safe.
“Every breath I take reminds me of those that can’t; sometimes with searing pain, and with a life time of medical oversight. A community that I’ll meet a tiny percentage of…them and their families need help. They are my fuel and until they breathe as easily as me, I’ll have a hand in their survival.”
– Sean Dunleavy
From my first Crossing until today, I have watched our event grow from those 33 incredible individuals to an army of Piper’s Angels that will most likely see 200 paddlers, 50 captains, 80 crew members, and 200 staff and support volunteers make the 2019 Crossing be the next beautiful evolution in this event.
Along the way, I have focused my attention on the safety of the paddlers and all crew members on the water; the recruitment of paddlers, captains, and volunteers, and the development of the event while we are in Bimini. It’s been a ton of fun, with moments of excitement, stress, and joy. I’m proud beyond words to be part of this movement.
Earlier I mentioned what makes a fire. Travis provided the spark, but where the oxygen and fuel come from are equally important to me. My fuel is my education into the CF community. I had watched Piper grow up via Travis and I learned a little about cystic fibrosis from their journey. They were my gateway to the community as a whole through Travis’s involvement and what I learned will be with me forever.
The oxygen to this fire is my family. They say timing in life is everything, and though I would have said yes to that call from Travis at any time, his call came at the perfect time in my life. I had just become a father the year before and I put myself in Travis’s shoes and wondered how I would process and proceed if my own daughter had cystic fibrosis. I would hope that the support the Piper’s Angels Foundation offers would find me and that I would fight every day for my daughter’s breaths. I want to leave this world better than I found it. For everyone, but most of all, my little girl.
We are an ever growing family of angels that fight for every breath. Help us grow by finding your fire and letting it burn brightly.
– Sean Dunleavy, Crossing For A Cure Committee Chair & Admiral of the Fleet
