Epic Way Sports’ Dr. Robb Gaffney MD addresses reporters and participants at the start of the Lake Tahoe Crossing on August 11th, 2008
Going The Distance is the working title of a documentary film that revolves around the first ever crossing of Lake Tahoe’s 22 miles on Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs). While Going the Distance includes stunning footage of athletes and disabled sports ambassadors attempts to paddle across Lake Tahoe, the real focus of Going The Distance is on the plight of those suffering with traumatic brain injuries, or “TBIs.”
The sunrise setting and uncertainty of whether the participants will make it to Lake Tahoe’s other shore is a metaphor (as Skiskill’s Dr. Robb Gaffney MD, a physician who treates TBI patients) points out for the difficulty and uncertainty that TBI sufferers face. But unlike the athletes, TBI victims face the struggles and uncertainty, each and every day – most likely for the rest of their lives.
Going The Distance includes interviews with world class athletes as well as disabled celebrities, ABC News Anchorman Bob Woodruff, himself a suvivor of a severe TBI, as well as emotional but uplifting stories of near death injuries to recovery stories of Jay Waller and others.
The dramatic beauty of Lake Tahoe serves to create an appreciation of nature as well as the uncertainty that lies ahead be it for the event’s paddlers, as well as TBI patients. Few of the participants had ever been on a Stand Up Paddleboard prior to setting out for what would be an all day, 22 mile marathon event. Many if not most did not know what conditions lie ahead or whether they would be able to to go the distance. But each and every one was determined to make it to that other, distant shore. If not for themselves, then for the others that this project is dedicated to.
Going the Distance is directed by David L Brown, a two-time Emmy winning film maker who resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. David’s other films include Surfing For Life, a celebration of life-long commitments to the sport, lifestyle, and philosophy of surfing and surfers. More recently, David released “Of Wind and Waves: The Life of Woody Brown” that chronicles the life of Woody Brown (1912-2008) surfer, sailor, and humanitarian to both critical and audience aclaim.
For more information on the Going The Distance Project and to learn how you can ensure this project is both completed and helps traumatic brain injury survivors, visit: www.goingthedistance.info
Contact Information:
Executive Producer Rob Howard (415-388-1260)
Director David L Brown (415-468-7469)