Professional Surfers Unite with a Pro Board Benefit for Jeannie Chesser and the Defend Oahu Coalition

jeannie chesser benefit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jeannie Chesser, long time Hawaii surfer and onetime surfing champion, is battling a rare form of cancer. A unique surf benefit is being organized for her by friend Mark Cunningham and other surfers. The benefit will be held Saturday, February 16, 2008 from noon until 6 PM at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center (59-864 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa, HI). The benefit will feature a variety of surfboards surfed by professional surfers, boards donated by shops and shapers, surf art, jewelry, books, photos and other
surf related items. Organizer Mark Cunningham notes the goal is to “(A)ssemble the greatest collection of contemporary pro surfboards, new and used, ever to be gathered in one place.” Funds raised from this benefit will go towards Jeannie’s medical bills and towards the Defend Oahu Coalition. Jeannie is a longtime supporter of the Coalition.

Professional surfers who have donated boards for this benefit include Kelly Slater (7 time world champion), Andy Irons (3 time world champ), Joel Parkinson, Dave Rastovich, Occy, Taj Burrow, Phil MacDonald, Cory Lopez, Brad Gerlach, Taylor Knox, Rob Machado, Dustin Barca, Ian Walsh, the Malloy Brothers, Shane Dorian, Tom Whitaker, Jamie O'Brien, Rico Jimenez, Danny Fuller, Dave Wassel, T.J. Barron, Joel Centio, Noah Johnson, Chava Greenlee, and Jason Shibata.

Jeannie was born in Miami, FL and moved to Hawaii in the 1970s. Jeannie won her first surf contest in 1965 and was US Surfing Champ in 1992. She married David
Chesser and had a son, Todd, who followed his mother into the waves of Hawaii. Todd was the NSSA Surf Champion in 1985 and enjoyed surfing large waves, including participating in the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. Sadly, Todd was killed while surfing large waves in 1997.

Jeannie combined her love of the water with her work, and has become an accomplished painter. She is known for her work on surfboards, and on canvas. Her art will be included in the upcoming auction. Jeannie is a frequent surfer in Hawaii waves and notes that Tavarua, a wave in Fiji, has provided solace to her throughout her life. Jeannie describes her current work as ““(T)otally therapeutic to work with beads, jewelry, and silver. That people like my stuff enough to buy it is certainly a bonus. I know my art is not going to change the world…it’s not earth-shattering. But I hope it cheers people up or just gives them something pleasant to look at. Todd’s mana (spirit) lives on in me and my art.”

Event organizer Mark Cunningham is a world renown body surfer who has been a lifeguard in Hawaii for many years. While enjoying retirement from life-guarding, Mark continues to surf and organize for causes including Jeannie and the Defend Oahu Coalition. Mark is the 2007 Pipeline Bodysurfing Champion, a past winner of the Mexico International Bodysurfing Competition and has been featured in several surf films.

The Defend Oahu Coalition is a diverse group of community residents, environmentalists, activists and religious leaders all working together towards one goal: protecting communities along the North Shore from the dangerous effects of large scale development. Members of the coalition believe that the beautiful North Shore is for all Oahu residents as well as visitors, and are committed to ensuring that it will continue to be a resource for generations to come. Members of the Defend Oahu Coalition are best known for the kelly green Keep the country COUNTRY shirts and will be encouraging members to wear their kelly green at this benefit.

Download Event Flyer (Adobe Reader or similar required)

Additional Links:

Jeannie Chesser’s Art Company - SurfingArts.com
Defend Oahu Coalition - DefendOahuCoalition.org

Photos by Sean Davey and Betty Depolito.

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Media Contact:

Pamela Clark - OneWahine.com
503-805-9668
clark_pamela@yahoo.com

Event website:
JeannieChesser.com

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