A 250-mile ocean paddle relay passed its baton through Malibu in August, involving lifeguards and junior lifeguards from more than 25 agencies. The relay ended this past weekend at El Refugio State Beach in Gaviota, after beginning at Imperial Beach, near the Mexican border, in June.
Malibu’s leg of the relay was paddled by local lifeguards including Damian Minicucci, who paddled from Surfrider to Zuma beaches.
The paddle relay was held to raise awareness for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) “Block the Blaze” skin cancer education program, according to information shared by the California Surf Lifesaving Association (CSLA).
“As lifeguards, we spend the majority of our careers in the sun, and we know the dangers of sun exposure,” Bill Humphreys, CSLA president, said in a statement provided by the organization. “The ‘SoCal PaddleDown’ is a great way of raising awareness about the dangers of sun exposure, and the JWCF is providing the next generation of lifeguards the tools and information to prevent and detect skin cancer.”
