[August 06, 2014]

MAULI OLA FOUNDATION: 7th Annual Breath of Life Golf Tournament Fundraiser, 2014 East Coast Tour, Battle for the Breasts

The Mauli Ola Foundation (MOF), established in 2007 to help support the cystic fibrosis (CF) community by spreading awareness and education about the amazing connection between the ocean and CF, held its 7^th annual Breath of Life Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, CA (News - Alert) on July 25, 2014, presented by Ambry Genetics. Surfing legend and 2000 ASP World Champion Tour Champion Sunny Garcia hosted the event. The event was a complete success, with talented surfers, action sports and biotech companies coming together to show their support for this worthwhile cause. The event raised significant funds for the Foundation. All funds raised support the Surf Experience Days the Foundation hosts for people with CF and other genetic disorders.

From August 6-22, 2014 The Mauli Ola Foundation will be doing its annual East Coast Tour from Florida to New York. This involves Surf Experience Days, pediatric hospital visits and awareness events. Surf Experience Days gets kids with CF out into the water for free, professional one-on-one surf lessons with some of the best surfers in the world, like Sunny Garcia, Hans Hagen, Teddy Navarro, Sam Hammer, Jason "Mags" Magallanes, CJ Kahnua and Ben Bourgeois. The Foundation has held over 82 Surf Experience Days to over 2,000 people with CF and other genetic conditions over the past five years. Surf Experience Days include: Todd Holland Surf Experience Dy (Cocoa Beach, FL) Wednesday, August 6; Ben Bourgeois Surf Experience Day (Wrightsville Beach, NC) Sunday, August 10; Jason "Mags" Magallanes Surf Experience Day (Virginia Beach, VA) Thursday, August 14, Sam Hammer Surf Experience Day (Spring Lake, NJ) Sunday, August 17 and the Sunny Garcia Surf Experience Day (Long Beach, NY) Thursday, August 21.

The Mauli Ola Foundation and Ambry Genetics announce Battle for the Breasts, an online surf video contest powered by Surfline, which offers an opportunity to win up to $125K worth of vouchers for Ambry Genetics' comprehensive hereditary breast cancer (BRCA1/2) genetic testing. The goal of this 3-month event is to increase awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection and screening. The world's top women's surfers will represent 16 cancer clinics/hospitals, for a chance to win free genetic testing (up to $50K per center) for their affiliated center. A lottery at the National Society of Genetic Counselors conference in New Orleans will select the 16 participants and pair. The top 4 surfers voted on by the 1.7 million viewers on Surfline will win genetic testing vouchers for the center they represent. The remaining 12 centers will also receive a voucher for a comprehensive BRCA1/2 genetic analysis for participating in the contest. Ambry Genetics plans to donate all testing vouchers to these foundations on behalf of the surfer's overall performance and placement. Application submissions are due by September 18, 2014.

Also noteworthy, MOF Ambassador and world class competitor Nathan Hedge will be featured in Red Bull's 21Days video series tracking his quest for requalification into the WCT Surfing Circuit.

"It has been an exciting time for Mauli Ola," says Hans Hagen, Mauli Ola Foundation Executive Director. "Our outreach has continued to expand nationally through our Surf Experience Days, spreading the word about the healing properties of the ocean and its connection to cystic fibrosis. Battle for the Breasts has picked up steam as well - I'm over the moon about how the best women surfers in the world are genuinely enthusiastic about raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection."

Mauli Ola Foundation continues its commitment to promote education and awareness of genetic disorders while introducing natural treatments, like the ocean, to provide an enjoyable and healthy way of life for children with genetic disorders. For more information, please visit www.mauliola.org

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