May 26, 2010
By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Go Fly a Kite

Wait, what? Kites for a Cure? What does Kites have to do with pets? Okay, I know what you are thinking, you can’t take your pet to the beach to fly a kite – well you would be correct. So how does the best event of the Hamptons summer season, “Kites for a Cure” tie in with pets? Let me tell you a story. As some of you know I used to own a Doberman, Shanna who lived until she was 12.5 years old, was a two-time cancer survivor and an amazing dog. But what you may not know is I got Shanna just two weeks after my dad passed away from his battle with Lung Cancer. He was just 52 and I was just 22. I was fortunate enough to have really good friends chip in so I could purchase, (simmer down rescue folks, all my pets have been rescues except her!), her from a local breeder. A puppy was indeed perfect timing, at such a difficult time for our family. A good friend of mine who is Doberman savvy went with me to look at a few different litters, the first place we went, well let’s just say, not so much, 2nd place, on the other side of the Island – had just what we were looking for. There were 3 puppies left, 2 boys and a girl. The boys were picking on her and she stood her ground and defended herself, I looked at my friend and said, “that’s my dog!” (I have two older brothers – so you can get the picture now!)

So we drove home and I can tell you my mother wasn’t too pleased when I came at midnight with my bundle of joy, plopped her down and said, “Mom, I got a puppy!”

How cute, my mom wanted to resist, but she just couldn’t. We did have much older dog at the time – who passed away from cancer 6 months later. So a puppy was just what we needed to help us pour our energy into. And it didn’t hurt that Dobies are naturally protective, a built in security system – thank you very much. The landscapers made fun of her goofiness when she was a pup, but when she got big, it was pretty funny to see how scared they were of her. (evil grin!)

Shanna was an amazing dog, had a spoiled life, went most places with me (Ocean Beach, Parks, Hamptons, Horse shows, you name it, I took her). She accepted her puppy brother Max (my pit bull), when I brought him home, acted like a momma dog to him, oh and didn’t take any crap from him either. But she loved him too:

I have always been involved with pets or in the pet industry one way or another, but Shanna really steered me more in this direction – Max helped too, but 2nd child syndrome! When Shanna was 8 years old, she had to have her leg amputated due to freaking Cancer – but she kicked Cancer’s butt, hopped all over the place on her 3 legs, and adapted so fast. She was an inspiration everywhere she went. She also earned her CGC (Canine Good Citizen award) and was a registered therapy dog.

Okay, so really how does this tie in with Kites? Well the second summer after I moved myself and the dogs (after a 5-yr stint in Lindy), to the East End, I saw in the local paper an ad for “Kites for a Cure” benefiting Joan’s Legacy Lung Cancer Foundation, now called Uniting Against Lung Cancer. This was incredible as I had never seen an event like this to raise awareness and funds to fight Lung Cancer. (The most under funded and stigmatized cancer of them all). This event was in Southampton and didn’t cost $500 to attend ($25 donation & Free Parking!). I was there! (And yes I left the dogs at home!) I was totally blown away (ok, pun intended, but really), this event was just incredible, hundreds of kites in the sky, beautiful, so much fun, and come on you’re on the beach! It was fantastic. So the following year, I contacted them to be involved. I have been working with the most amazing team, Uniting Against Lung Cancer and Great Ink ever since. Joan’s Legacy still lives on, as Uniting Against Lung Cancer and was founded in 2001 in memory of Joan Scarangello, a Southampton resident and non-smoker who lost her battle with lung cancer. In just seven years, the foundation has awarded more than $10 million in research grants to find a cure for the disease that will claim an estimated 160,000 lives in the U.S. this year. Joan was the reason for this beautiful group of people who started what is now a nationwide Kite flying phenomenon and more – to help fight Lung Cancer, whether you smoked a day in your life or not.

My dad went to the beach with us as kids, but he preferred the being on the boat fishing or golfing. He also liked cats better than dogs, but think he would have loved Shanna! Shanna was an inspiration, Kites is an inspiration. If you have yet to come to this event, you are seriously missing out! Where else can you act like a kid, color in a kite, (yes people there are literally art stations on the beach to decorate your kite!), and then go and fly on a kite on one of the most beautiful beaches?

I am telling you this is the best event of the Hamptons summer season – and there is no traffic anymore to get to Southampton – the made the road bigger a few years ago. So really you have no excuse! Oh and you never know you might just rub elbows with a celeb or two.

The event is from 4pm – 6pm, is $25 in advance, register here: http://www.unitingagainstlungcancer.org/events/SHKites10

or $30 day of. Parking is still FREE. So who’s coming? I would suggest getting there by 4pm so you can take your time coloring in your kite. Here is one I did three years ago, don’t be jealous you can show me up!

If you look closely on the bottom there is also a paw print on that kite.

“Kites for a Cure” Saturday, May 29th, 4pm – 6pm, Coopers Beach, 268 Meadow Lane, Southampton, NY. www.UnitingAgainstLungCancer.org See you there, and oh yea, please leave your pets at home!

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