Daytime Radness Surf and Skate Event to Raise Awareness about Colon Cancer

aaron-hagerNow in its sixth year, Daytime Radness, which started as just an end of year sale for Island Water Sports, has become a Deerfield Beach tradition and raised more than $100,000 for local residents facing medical hardships. Celebrating the surf and skate community, Daytime Radness will be held on Friday, October 21 from 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. on the corner of N.E,. 2nd St. and N. Ocean Dr. in Deerfield Beach, featuring a half-pipe ramp jam, waterslide, autographs signing with pro skaters and surfers and plenty of raffles and giveaways.

Daytime Radness Surf and Skate Event’s Purpose

This year’s proceeds will benefit Grind for Life, a local organization providing financial assistance to cancer patients and their families, and the Hager Family, a South Florida skate family.

Aaron Hager is a hard working, loving husband and father. On his 43rd birthday he thought he was having a stroke at work. He called his wife who picked him up and took him to the ER. He was promptly admitted. After many tests the doctors found a large tumor in his colon and he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He has had the tumor removed and is now undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Aaron and Angie Hager have two boys. Their 11-year-old, Roman is on a mission to become a professional skateboarder and is currently ranked fourth in the world for skateboarding in his age group. Their 10-year-old Rocco is someone who always makes you smile at life. Rocco has also dealt with medical issues struggling with childhood diabetes most of his life.

But despite all this, the Hagers are still known for giving back to the skate community and being a huge support to others. The boys have attended skate camp at Ramp 48 for years and Roman is on the skate team at Island Water Sports.

“This year our goal is to raise enough to cover some of their out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance. We hope to help the family focus on Aaron’s treatment without the extra financial burden,” said Toni Frallicciardi, a spokesperson for Island Water Sports. Additional money raised will then go to Grind For Life, a non-profit who also helps families affected by cancer.

“This is a really close knit family. At every skate event they are there together, and we’re just trying to bless their family and show them they are not alone in this,” she said.

hager-skateIsland Water Sports has always been a family run shop started by Kirk Cottrell in 1978, who also founded Christian Surfers. Honoring his vision, the Cottrell Family continues to reach out to the community to offer support to whoever needs it and they really care about the kids, explained Frallicciardi.

Those who have benefited from this annual event over the years include Karen Rice,of the Observer, who battled lunch cancer; Christian Skaters and injured surfer Brooke Thabit; Ben and Carolyne Koos, who founded Embrace Life Children’s Foundation; the family of Philip Pechonis, who battled bladder cancer; and Deerfild Beach local Carly Magnuson.

Like all Island Water Sports events, Daytime Radness is for the whole family and provides a safe and fun environment for anyone who wants to join.

Two other events will also benefit the Hagers. The Road to Radness Skate Competition will be held at Ramp 48, 6290 NW 27th Way, Fort Lauderdale, on October 15 from 9 a.m – 4 p.m. featuring street and bowl divisions.

There will also be a Stand Up and Paddle For Cancer Full Moon Sup Tour on October 15 & 16 from 7-10 p.m. For tickets, visit islandcamps.com/sup/full-moon-paddle

What can you expect to see at Daytime Radness?

See some of the best skateboarders in the world and local hometown talent skating the Vans vert ramp and the Vans mini-ramp. There will be interactive experiences with surf and skate brands like Quiksilver, Gopro, Volcom, Stance, Electric, Vans & more, pro surfers and skaters signing autographs and hanging out with the locals, and the largest sale on surf, SUP and skate items in South Florida.

Raffle prizes will include surfboards, Miami Heat tickets, Dolphins tickets, Sunglasses, skateboards, beach getaways and more.

For more information, visit daytimeradness.com.

For more articles by Shelly Pond, please visit goodnewsfl.org/author/shelly/

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