The Big Andrew White Salmon Kayak Race

It's been almost ten years since avid surfer Andrew Gmelch of Haverhill, Massachusetts, lost his valiant battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but the namesake foundation started in his honor hasn't stopped paddling. The Big Andrew Foundation printed up some classic rectangle logo stickers that features their branding on a deep black background with red-and-white type. Easily applied and instantly recognizable, these stickers make for great water bottles, bumpers, laptops or any-old-place the participants want to rock this design. And this weekend The Big Andrew Foundation will be hosting their 1st Annual Big Andrew White Salmon Kayak Race, and they will bring together an epic group of paddlers on a classic section of Pacific Northwest whitewater near Husum, Washington. Racers will participate in a time-trial based format, and they will be hucking over five miles of water and crushing a few big drops. For the folks in the "Stands" (read: the riverbank) will have some great views of the scenic shores of the White Salmon river while they pull from kegs of cold Ninkasi beer and listen to music by a roaring campfire at the Husum Falls Finish Line. Sounds like a great time outdoors for a good cause, just the kind of event we love to sponsor here at StickerGiant. The Big Andrew Foundation is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the financial and emotional support of cancer patients and their families. Started in the spring following Andrew's passing, the foundation is a group of watermen, survivors, volunteers and families that rally around a common passion: helping those in need and being close to the water. In it's eight years, the foundation has seen a consistent growth, with young surfers coming back year after year, vowing they will be this years winner.

Always known as the one who could put a smile on someones face no matter what the situation, Andrew was an individual who lived with unforgettable character. Even at the height of his illness, his optimism and good heartedness remained at the core of his being. The effort in which Andrew expressed in activities ranging from extreme sports to his school studies, provides us with an extraordinary example of how living with passion means to live without regrets and fears. His quick wit and sense of humor also taught those of us who knew him how to live with a little humility, and to take life as it comes.