This year we are paddling from the Channel Islands to Santa Barbara and raising funds for Nick Fields, a local surfer and musician fighting a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer. The Friendship Paddle is and organization that's close to my heart and supports a waterman each year that is facing a life-threatening illness with both financial and emotional support. It's more than a fundraiser, it really is a community. 100% of donations go to supporting this year's honoree, Nick Fields!  Nick should be focused on his health, and we aim to take away some of the financial concerns he has during this time. It truly is an honor to paddle this year for Fieldsy!

More About Nick Fields:

In March 2024, while on a trip to the Eastern Sierra Nevada, he started experiencing severe headaches. Over time, the headaches got worse until they reached a debilitating level of pain. Upon his return to Santa Barbara, he sought medical support and, after multiple visits to the emergency room and various tests, the doctors discovered a golf-ball sized tumor on the temporal lobe of his brain.  He immediately underwent surgery and, when he awoke, he discovered that they had successfully removed the tumor along his amygdala. After many visits, consultations and even a visit to the NIH headquarters in DC, Nick’s medical team finally made the diagnosis.

Nick has an extremely rare and aggressive type of brain cancer, Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (APXA), the likes of which doctors see fewer than 5 cases nationwide each year. Following the craniotomy, Nick underwent a steady dose of radiation and chemotherapy that spanned the rest of 2024. 

As the New Year dawned in 2025, Nick had hopes to put the cancer behind him. His scan results indicated  that he was recurrence free, and his seizures had mostly subsided. Based on this news, he was cleared to drive again and, most importantly, he was back in the water surfing. However, almost a year after the first incident, his April scan results revealed that the cancer was back.  Here we go again. 

A few things are certain for Nick’s future. Following his second craniotomy in May of this year, Nick’s medical team is now working on a secondary treatment plan. Nick hopes to keep surfing, playing music, and living life the way he loves to do it: by engaging in his friendships, both new and old. He is beyond thrilled to be the 2025 Friendship Paddle Honoree and has admitted to selfishly wanting to participate in the paddle; however, he didn’t know  that it would take all that he’s going through to make this year his first (of many) paddles. 

The Friendship Paddle is excited to paddle for, and support Nick Fields this year!

Visit The Friendship Paddle to learn more.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. No amount is too small!
• Spread the Word: Share my fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!

Thank you for your support of The Friendship Paddle.