[August 30, 2016]

World's Top Female Surfers Join Together for The Mauli Ola Foundation's Third Annual Battle for the Breast

The Mauli Ola Foundation (MOF), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing hope and confidence to people living with genetic diseases, has selected 16 of the world's top professional female surfers to participate in the third annual Battle for the Breasts (B4TB) competition, a virtual surf video contest that will be featured on Surfline.com during the month of October. Hosted by MOF and presented by Ambry Genetics, each surfer will represent one of 16 randomly selected cancer centers, clinics or foundations.

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S.

"Genetic testing is the most effective form of early detection and can play a huge role in preventive care and treatment," said Dr. Aaron Elliott, Ambry Genetics CEO. "By encouraging women to get appropriate screening, we can continue to detect or prevent breast cancer in its earliest stages."

The top four winning foundation-surfer teams will receive up to $125,000 total in hereditary breast cancer testing vouchers, which will be donated by Ambry Genetics on behalf of the surfers. The remaining 12 surfer-foundation teams will receive a comprehensive BRCA1/2 analysis voucher for participating in the contest.

Last year's competition showcased support between the professional surfer's video submissions, public awareness about breast cancer as well as each clinic's participation in the event.

"We are grateful to Coco Ho [2015 B4TB team winner], the Mauli Ola Foundation and Ambry Genetics in helping us with our mission to help our patients gain more knowledge and insights into their risk for cancer," said Pat Via, Founder of MLC Cancer Foundation and 2015 B4TB team winner.

The participating centers for the 2016 competition will be decided September 30th in a lottery, which will be announced live on the Mauli Ola Foundation's Facebook (News - Alert) page. The competition then begins on October 4th, 2016 and remains active throughout the entire month of October, also known as Breast Cancer Awareness month.

MOF will welcome newcomers Caroline Marks, Keely Andrew and Isabella Nichols to this year's competition roster in addition to returning professional surfers three-time World Surf League Champion (WSL) Carissa Moore, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Courtney Conlogue, Coco Ho, Sage Erickson, Laura Enever, Tyler Wright, Lakey Peterson, Alana Blanchard, Bianca Buitendag, Alessa Quizon, and Johanne Defay.

"Hands down the best win I have ever had," said Professional Surfer Coco Ho, winner of the 2015 competition. "Hearing the joy in the MLC Foundation employees' voices when we spoke on the phone filled my heart with gratitude and love. Their hard work and compassion on behalf of those fighting and surviving breast cancer really empowered me. The competition was about so much more than getting votes for the best surfing clips."

MOF is especially excited for the return of the first B4TB winner and new mother, Bethany Hamilton whose performance in this year's WSL Fiji Pro shows she has no signs of slowing down.

"I am so proud to be part of Battle for the Breasts again," said Hamilton. "This is a great cause to support breast cancer awareness and encourage women to learn more about their risk."

In addition to the elevated surfing performances that will broadcast to a large international audience, MOF estimates this action-packed competition will essentially educate a younger audience about breast cancer and provide aid to those who don't have access to genetic testing.

"I am very excited about our third Battle for the Breasts competition," said James Dunlop, Mauli Ola Foundation President. "I'm proud that Mauli Ola Foundation will empower people to take charge of their health. We are humbled to have a loyal group of ambassadors that are willing to share their platform for the greater good. Thank you to all the sponsors, surfers, and staff that are making this possible."

Visit Surfline.com throughout the month of October to view and vote for each video submission. For clinics or foundations who are interested in participating in this year's event, register at: www.mauliola.org/battle-for-the-breasts.

Stay tuned to the MOF website and social media channels for announcements and updates on all of the events and incredible stories.

Instagram: @mauliolafoundation
Twitter (News - Alert): @mauliolasurf
Facebook: @MauliOlaFoundation

For more information about the Mauli Ola Foundation, visit their web site at: www.mauliola.org.

ABOUT MAULI OLA FOUNDATION Mauli Ola Foundation (MOF) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope and confidence to individuals living with genetic diseases. Harnessing the healing powers of the ocean, MOF introduces surfing and ocean-based activities as natural therapies. MOF is honored to have the knowledge of the ocean, family values and community.

ABOUT AMBRY GENETICS® Ambry Genetics is both College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified. Ambry leads in clinical genetic diagnostics and genetics software solutions, combining both to offer the most comprehensive testing menu in the industry. Ambry has established a reputation for sharing data while safeguarding patient privacy, unparalleled service, and responsibly applying new technologies to the clinical molecular diagnostics market. For more information about Ambry Genetics, visit www.ambrygen.com.

ABOUT SURFLINE Surfline/Wavetrak, Inc. specializes in providing live and predicted ocean weather information, editorial content, and consulting services to consumers, businesses and government agencies worldwide. Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, Surfline/Wavetrak Inc. is focused on enabling its customers to pursue peak surfing, marine, and fishing experiences through the Surfline.com, Buoyweather.com, and FishTrack.com brands on web and mobile platforms. The company offers paid premium subscription services on both web and mobile platforms. In addition to paid subscriptions, the company also offers advertising and provides a range of marketing services designed to reach and connect with users of Surfline, Buoyweather, and FishTrack. For more information on Surfline, visit www.surfline.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160830006432/en/

[ Back To Mobile World Congress's Homepage ]