Sails Up 4 Cancer: How Sailing Helped One Man Turn Treatment Into a Mission of Support

Bob Davis was in his early 60s when he received a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. The radiation treatments were harsh: he lost roughly 80 pounds in a short time and was left exhausted, spending long days on his sofa at home in Niantic, Connecticut. His 28-foot O’Day sailboat sat on the hard for the season, its hull untouched by salt. A single afternoon on the water changed everything.

A friend invited Davis to spend a day aboard a 46-foot Alden yawl. “It was a perfect day with a perfect breeze,” he recalls. “I was at the helm and the boat was right on point. I was once again caught up in the art and enjoyment of sailing. I thought, ‘This is what life is all about.’” That experience rekindled more than a hobby; it restored a sense of purpose.

In 2011 Davis founded Sails Up 4 Cancer (SU4C), a nonprofit dedicated to easing the financial burden for people facing cancer. SU4C helps patients with expenses that often pile up during diagnosis and treatment—bills, groceries, medication—by providing direct financial assistance and by directing funds to local hospitals. The organization is small and regional, driven largely by volunteers who share a love of the water and a personal connection to cancer.

SU4C raises funds through a variety of community events tailored to the sailing community and beyond. Weekend regattas bring crews and families together on the water, while more formal black-tie galas attract donors and sponsors who want to support cancer care. Part of SU4C’s fundraising supports the Spinnaker Fund, a dedicated resource for patients in immediate need. Davis explains the fund’s name: “A spinnaker is a sail set to run with the wind behind you. When the wind’s behind your back, you need all the sails out or you’re going nowhere. The Spinnaker Fund’s mantra is ‘We have your back.’”

Davis’s decision to start SU4C wasn’t made in a vacuum; he brought prior nonprofit experience and a history with cancer organizations to the effort. In 2004 he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. His oncologist, recognizing his love of sailing, encouraged him to get involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and The Leukemia Cup Regatta, a series of boating events that raised money for blood cancer research. He quickly became active in those fundraisers, learning valuable lessons about organizing events, engaging donors, and mobilizing volunteers.

Through that work he met prominent figures in the sailing and fundraising world, including sailing veteran Gary Jobson, who chaired the Leukemia Cup during its expansion into a major fundraising program. The experience taught Davis how to translate a passion for sailing into tangible support for people battling cancer.

Over the years SU4C has quietly but meaningfully impacted families in the region, helping to reduce the financial stress that often accompanies medical treatment and enabling patients to focus on recovery. The organization’s volunteer base includes sailors, caregivers, and survivors—people united by a shared desire to give back. For his leadership and service, Davis recently received a certificate of recognition from the state of Connecticut, a formal acknowledgment of SU4C’s local impact.

“It’s important to give back based on your good fortune,” Davis says. “Gratitude is critical. And I believe the work and passion of sailors can be vital in every community.” His story is an example of how personal recovery and community service can combine: a life restored by a day on the water turned into a mission to help others navigate the storm of a cancer diagnosis.

If you are interested in learning more about SU4C’s events, volunteer opportunities, or the Spinnaker Fund, the organization welcomes inquiries and community involvement. Small charities like SU4C rely on local support to continue offering direct, practical help to patients and families in need.

Jeanne Craig, [email protected]

This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue.