On a July evening in Surf City at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, Pipeline to a Cure brought some of the biggest names in surfing together with more than 800 supporters for the cause of beating cystic fibrosis.
In the oceanfront setting, Shelby Klug, an 18-year-old Chapman University freshman and CF ambassador, recounted her near-death experiences, double lung transplant and the 85 days she spent in the hospital over the past year. “The number one fear in the world is public speaking, the second is death. I’ve conquered both. So, spiders is the third; I’m stopping at the first and second,” she said in front of the teary-eyed crowd, who gave her a standing ovation.
Pipeline honorary co-chairs and surfing legends Dave Kalama and Jamie Mitchell recounted their death-defying days in the oceans. “No matter how difficult a race is, or if I’m having an off day, I always think about these kids. They don’t quit, you don’t quit,” Kalama said.
The event raised $525,000 through the silent and live auction as well as from the generosity of supporters such as the Kirby Family, Team Shelby, LAcarGUY, HB Surf School, Newport Aquatic Center, Newport Surf Camp, Audi America, Quickblade and KROQ.