My First Boat Outing!

Though I’ve been on boats before, this was my first boating event on staff as the Assistant Editor here at Southern Boating Magazine. That was the day I maintained an element of excitement that stayed constant from the moment I parked my car at Bahia Mar Marina until the luncheon cruise came to an end on Sunday, August 14th. Captain Andrew Cilla, an FWF board member and the owner of Luke Brown Yachts of Fort Lauderdale, donated his boat, the Rachel Ann for a good cause. 

Thanks to Freedom Waters Foundation (FWF) – Weller Days (named after co-founder John Weller), a sweet family of five boys and their mother were able to cruise around on the waters in Fort Lauderdale for a few hours of respite. They weren’t just there as passengers, but also as (first-time) captains. Each of the boys, all under age 12, took turns at the helm. (And I got to have my first time at the helm!)

This wasn’t just another pleasant day on the water (though it was that, too) but was a day dedicated to one of the young boys who is suffering from cancer. That’s what FWF – Weller Days does; they take families of kids with cancer out of the hospital and give them the chance to enjoy being on the water for a few hours.

Freedom Waters Foundation

FWF founder and Executive Director, Debra Frenkel, said, “I believe that water has a therapeutic effect for anyone, even those afraid of it.” She went on to say that most of the people talk about their situation when they are on these outings. “Some have the need to talk a great deal and others will tell you a bit and then get lost in the boating experience. Even those who feel the need to talk a lot – by the end of the trip are feeling far more relaxed.”

Photo courtesy of Freedom Waters Foundation

Freedom Waters caters to children with cancer as well as people with disabilities. They also reach out to all age groups with a variety of special needs, including children with autism, deafness or blindness; blind veterans; seniors at assisted living facilities; at-risk youth; and those with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Since it began in March 2006, FWF’s mission has been to “enhance lives by providing boating opportunities and marine related activities for people with disabilities, life threatening diseases, youth at risk and others with special needs.” Their ultimate vision is to become the national leader in therapeutic boating and marine related activities for these folks.

FWF Co-Founder, John Weller

Weller Days originated shortly after John, a yacht broker for 30 years, was undergoing his first round of cancer treatments. “About six years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I was treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, when I met the families out there who have children with cancer. I said, ‘These people would enjoy a boat ride,’ so that’s when the idea came into my brain,” he told me. “But I enjoy doing these kinds of things. I think that if you put back into the community, you’re doing the right thing and that makes you feel good.” John is a five-time cancer survivor.

Why They Do It

Debra and John, photo courtesy of Freedom Waters Foundation

Debra said that she enjoys all different kinds of people coming together for a few hours on the water. “[The most fun part is] seeing people come together who may not otherwise ever meet one another and form a meaningful bond and understanding. It appears that we get together because of the person with the illness or special need, but the participation touches everyone involved in the day/activity, and at the same time, all the day to day cares fall away.”

It’s true; I don’t see how I would have ever met that (smiley) family, nor the captains who donated their boat and time. But I’m so glad I did.

I was very moved by the boys’ mother who endured hundreds of pictures that our Managing Editor, Nancy and I took throughout those three hours on the Rachel Ann. When I complimented her on her easy smile and photogenic abilities at the end of the day, she laughed and told me that she actually doesn’t like pictures. She knew if she didn’t set an example for her sons, they wouldn’t have enjoyed that aspect of the cruise but would have instead shied away from the camera. This took on a lot of meaning for me because it was clear that these well-behaved boys looked to their mom for a lot of things.

In the five and a half years since they started this program, Debra said she has gotten a lot of wonderful feedback from the people they have gotten to know on these outings. She said she consistently hears things like, “Thank you so much. I haven’t seen my child smile this much in a very long time,” or “I can’t remember when I felt this relaxed. Thank you!”

How They Do It

FWF thrives because of support from their board members, partners, volunteers and the media. “I can’t thank them all enough. I am still amazed that FWF has done so much and served so many in a five and a half year time period and have remained in the black financially the whole time. We have our moments of being close, but we have managed to squeeze through, even in these toughest times, so we are, together, doing something right,” Debra said.

For more information or to make a donation to FWF, go to their website or call them at 239-248-1120.