About Heaven Can Wait
Each year, the Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto hosts the Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta in support of the Home Help Program of the Cancer Council's Hunter Branch, who provide domestic support services for both terminal and recovering cancer patients.
The Heaven Can Wait Charity Sailing Regatta was conceived and inaugurated by Lake Macquarie resident, keen sailor and cancer survivor Shaun Lewicki as a major annual sailing event on the lake, to promote sailing, the Lake Macquarie region and to raise funds for the Cancer Council. Research has significantly improved the recovery rates of cancer patients, and therefore, so has the need to focus on helping those patients through their recovery. The Home Help Program run by the Hunter Branch of Cancer Council assists over 200 patients each year thanks to Heaven Can Wait. As recovery rates improve even further, so will the need for this type of support.
A small amount of the funds raised also goes to Lake Macquarie Marine Rescue, who provide on water rescue support during the regatta.
Entry fees paid by the participants go to the charity. In addition to the entry fees, participating boats participate in a ‘virtual’ fundraising race in support of the charities.
In total, since its inception, the regatta has raised in excess of $700,000.
The regatta covers the length and breadth of beautiful Lake Macquarie and includes four races run in parallel. There is the Short One Lap Dash around the Northern end of the Lake and the One Lap Dash around the whole lake, with both these races being open to all yachts, multihulls and trailer sailers. Then there is the tougher but more exciting 12 Hour Race and the 24 Hour Race.
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