Paddle For A Cure - Dan vs. Wild

Paddle For A Cure - Dan vs. Wild

UPDATE: Dan is planning a celebratory BBQ at the completion of his journey to Havre de Grace, MD on Sunday, October 10th. The celebration plans include an Alex’s Lemonade Stand, food, moon-bounce and other kid friendly fun! The celebration will take place at The Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House. (located off Erie Street at 817 Conesteo Street in Havre de Grace, Md) Celebration will take place from 1-5pm! Please RSVP to Laurie Zerumsky at lzerumsky@etopp.com or call 610-459-5515.

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Dan Topp is gearing up to “Paddle for a Cure!” -- In an effort to join the battle against childhood cancer, Dan Topp, President of Topp Portable Air, has agreed to participate in a truly unique fundraiser! Dan will kayak(paddle for a cure!) approximately 180 miles down the Susquehanna River from Williamsport, PA to the Chesapeake Bay in an effort to raise awareness and critical funding for childhood cancer research. Dan is teaming up with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) as he kayaks through central Pennsylvania to his final destination in Havre de Grace, MD at the mouth of the Susquehanna River.  

Neuroblastoma took the lives of two five-year-old children whose families each had a meaningful connection to Dan. In 2006 Molly Allison Cavera passed away after a two and a half year battle with Neurblastoma. Molly was a joyful little lady who loved bunnies and the color orange. She was full of Hope, Joy, Peace and Love.  The Topp family followed her courageous battle through Care Pages and prayed for her daily. Dan was inspired to get involved with ALSF after later hearing the story of Liam James Kane, the son of Dan’s former employee and friend, Kevin Kane. Kevin recently joined ALSF to enlist in their fight to eradicate all childhood cancers.

Liam was 3-years-old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the same disease endured by Molly Cavera and ALSF’s founder, Alexandra Scott. Liam, like Molly and Alex, showed amazing strength and wisdom well beyond his years and became a tremendous inspiration for everyone around him. Sadly, after a heroic, 20 month battle, Liam succumbed to his disease in November of 2005. Liam was 5-years-old when he earned his angel wings. 

Let the Paddle Begin!

Dan will kayak down the Susquehanna River beginning in Williamsport, Pa and travel 180 miles to Havre de Grace, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. Dan will truly be “roughing it” for the cause while camping each night along the river bank for the anticipated ten (10) day adventure!

Dates: The adventure begins on Friday, October 1st and ends on Sunday, October 10th 2010.

How can you get involved? Multiple donation options exist. Thank you in advance!

Dan’s Company, Topp Portable Air will match all donations dollar for dollar up to $10,000.00 for this great cause so donate BIG! A donation of $1.00 per mile will be a $180.00 donation and equal $360.00 toward this great cause with TOPP’s Match.

1. Donate online via Dan’s ALSF Fundraising page at www.alexslemonade.org/paddleforacure  

2. Make checks payable to “Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation” and add a notation; “Dan Topp / Paddle for a cure”. Please mail to: ALSF, 333 Lancaster Ave, #414, Wynnewood, PA 19096

3. Just text LEMONADE PADDLEFORACURE to 85944 to make an INSTANT $10 donation!

 

 ALSF (www.alexslemonade.org) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). 2010 marks 10 years since 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement.   To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $35 million towards fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 152 research projects nationally.  

 

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Blog Posts

Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 9:09am

DAY 8

"My army ranger friend Dave showed up Thursday night and camped with me on the bank of Pequea Creek about 1.2mile off the Susquehanna.   I believe Dave was researching river survival techniques for the army special forces and is planning a white paper on urban ninja survival based on what he saw on our campout together! ha.  Very off the grid hush hush stuff for sure.

Dave and I paddled down the Pequea first thing which opened into the Susquehanna river at sunup.  The main river was flat as glass (see Daves Pic cruising along in his orange kayak) and we enjoyed a smooth paddle.   My first really sunny day with no winds and my ranger friend is looking at me like “what’s all the whining about rain about their chief?”

On our paddle we noted a huge rock formation on the opposite side of the river (1/2 mile away) that had a hole in the middle and decided to paddle over and get pictures under the arch.  After a long paddle across the river to the “hole in the boulder” we discovered it to be an optical illusion and only a shadow.  It was an amazing illusion for sure. (see pic)

We paddled about seven mile down to the Holtwood Dam and met the plant manager (Doug) and got a nice tour and ride around the power plant to a put in below the dam.  At the ramp we ran into two nice guys who claimed to have gone the whole 440 miles of the Susky River.  Turns out I knew of them from their blog when researching the trip and had used much of their knowledge in setting up my paddle.  They are both named Jay so are referred to Jay one and Jay two in the inner circle of kayak sojourns.  It was an honor to meet them and also a great omen.  They laughed out loud at my floating garage sale for a camper/kayak.

Dave and I moved on down the river another 15 miles past the Peach Bottom Atomic power plant on the right (they were landing 30” striped bass in the hot water outflow as we passed) and onto the Conowingo Dam.  The Conowingo was the largest Dam I was to portage and again the plant manager came to the rescue and were at the ramp with a truck to move Dave and I below the Dam.  We padded into the outflow of the Dam as the sirens from the Dam releasing water was sounding.  We shot down river in the tailrace at 8.5mph and were cautious to stay upright.  Out day ended about 4 miles down at Port Deposit’s Susky Grill where we pulled out to camp at Elk Neck State park on Saturday.  We had paddled 24 miles with an average speed of 4.2mph per Dave’s stats.- Dan"

Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 9:00am

TODAY IS THE DAY!!

DAN TOPP HAS DONE IT!

HE COMPLETED 180 MILES FOR LIAM, MOLLY AND ALEX!

THE GOAL WAS $10,000 AND OF COURSE DAN PASSED IT!

AS OF 10/10/10 WE ARE AT $11,550!

 

WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU DAN!

 

DAN -1

WILD - 0

 

:)

Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 8:56am

DAY 7 "Woke up to sunshine today!  Wow what a change. 

Had a late breakfast on the porch of a closed ice cream shop (Scrambled Eggs and the old faithful Starbuck Via)  and then paddled out for an open water stretch heading to Safe Harbor Dam.  I had called ahead and told the mgr I would be their at 10 am for the Portage around the Dam.

This section of the river gets to be about 3/4 of a mile wide or so and is a large basin controlled by the Dam.  Saw a neat old water outflow that looked like a waterfall from a couple miles away so went over and shot a few pics.  When I got to the ramp at the base of the Safe Harbor Dam, Doug the manager was waiting with a PU truck to haul me around the Dam and to a stream that feeds into the main river below the Dam.  Real nice guy and great little park they left me off at.  Paddle out into the main river and then down to the Pequea Creek and then made a herculean (in my mind!) effort to paddle up the creek about 1.2 miles to the campground.  Made it over a couple rapids and into the fast water above and then ran out of gas a the 1 mile mark.  Had to bail and walk the kayak on a line up the creek the last .2m to the campground. 

The manager was standing on the bank and looked down into the river and said “your wife called and said you were coming, did you really paddle up that creek?”  He was cleaning up from having 18” of water in the campground which was 6’ above the creek I was in.  Big flood.  

Great little campground owned by PP&L (owns the Safe Harbor Dam) and had a chance to spread everything out finally and dry it.  Dave L. was coming tonight to join me for tomorrows 24 mile + two Dam journey so had to get cleaned up to see my first visitor!  Had a nice fire on the river bank.

Outflow from Mountain!" - Dan

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Donors

DonorDateAmountComments
SAP Matching Gift Program3/14/2011$100.00
SAP Matching Gift Program1/17/2011$200.00
John & Leigh Grady10/21/2010$10.00Dan - thanks for taking time to give back - we are impressed with your efforts and fundraising.
Kristin and Brian Watson10/13/2010$20.00
Dan and Becky Topp10/11/2010$10000.00We would like to thank everyone for their support of this great cause and are honored to match your donations. Along the way I met such great people and was motivated by all of you who supported this journey. I think Molly and Liam's spirit was well rep
matt10/10/2010$10.00cant wait to see the beard.
The McCall Family10/08/2010$50.00Mr. Dan Thank You for your adventurious journey and the heart felt cause you are a hero to many many many!!!!
J-one10/08/2010$50.00Great Adventure- Super tuff guy- Dan earned his kayak wings for this trip- saw him on the river today-big smile on his face.
Josh Palmer & Family10/08/2010$50.00Great way to raise awareness
Lisa Illig (Topp)10/06/2010$50.00Hey Dan! Great cause! Hope you enjoy kayaking as much as my husband. 5 days has been his longest trip! keep paddling...half way there. Saying a prayer for you :)
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