In 2010, Caroline “Liner” Lee won $50,000 on the competition show Wipeout. In 2011 and 2012, she competed on American Ninja Warrior. Lee’s athletic endeavors also included taking part in the “Escape from Alcatraz” triathlon four times. Yet, none of those challenges prepared her for the news she received in 2012—that year she was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer.
After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, she founded Wipeout Cancer as a way to increase cancer awareness and give back to the cancer community. Lee says Wipeout Cancer raises money while doing the activities she loves the most—bicycling, volleyball and obstacle courses.
On Saturday, July 29, the athletic fields at Cabrillo Middle School were turned into volleyball, cycling and obstacle course mecca as Wipeout Cancer held their fifth annual fundraiser—Sports Day for Charity.
Sports Day for Charity’s purpose is to raise funds for cancer support awareness and it is the main fundraiser to benefit Sports Day for Kids living with cancer and Cancer CAREpoint.
Wipeout Cancer’s initial goal was to raise $50,000—the same amount Lee had won on Wipeout—in five years—five years is the standard time measure of cancer survival rates. With the goal reached, Wipeout Cancer changed their goal from fundraising to “providing sporting opportunities for kids with cancer” and thus Sports Day for Kids was created.
According to Lee, it’s “a day when kids living with cancer are able to participate in team sports they may not be able to with their existing treatment and care regimes.
“We provide a safe and fun environment for kids to learn and practice with sports programs at local colleges,” continued Lee.
The first Sports Day for Kids event took place in 2016 with the San Jose State University Football team and future events are being planned. For more information on Wipeout Cancer, please visit their webpage: www.wipeout-cancer.org.
