The annual Topless for Tatas Wheeling Event doesn't just fund a good time. It helps fund crucial breast cancer research that, hopefully, one day eliminates this awful disease.
by Matt Konkle
Torque Managing Editor
TREMONT — Whether it is a large one, or small, just about every Jeep event has a story. Sure, it is about getting together and spending the day (or weekend) around tons of people, and sometimes vendors, who share the same interest. Quite possibly also getting the chance to do some amazing things off-pavement in the process.
But most times there is a reason for that gathering. A fundraiser for someone. Or a charity that needs a boost. Jeepers helping Jeepers, their communities, friends and families.
And the annual Topless for Tatas event at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park in Tremont, Pennsylvania bundles all that up into something that strives to fight one of the worst cancers around.
Something that affects almost everyone in one way or another.
Breast Cancer.
Now in its 14th edition, Topless for Tatas brought more than a thousand people together August 12-14 for several days of off-road driving, stories, hugs, laughter and a general feeling that one day, through these efforts, a cure will be found for this awful disease.
"This is super important to all of us who come out and who volunteer — Tatas is a non-profit organization, 100 percent volunteer, nobody makes a salary and 100 percent of the profits are donated," said Topless for Tatas Co-Founder Chantelle Kern. "Last year, I'm proud to say we donated over $101,000 to BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Fund)."
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one out of eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and an estimated 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2022, as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
It is currently the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers.
However, with early detection, breast cancer can often be diagnosed before it has spread outside the breast, for which the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.
Chantelle, along with husband Christopher Kern, established Topless for Tatas in 2009 and that year saw 65 vehicles show up for the first event. Since then the duo, along with scores of volunteers, have gone on overseeing events that have raised nearly $500,000 overall for the BCRF. That money has helped fund nearly 10,000 hours of crucial breast cancer research.
“We are actually funding the researchers in the form of grants, to go to researchers, doctors, medical professionals, and they are looking for different drug combinations to either fight the disease, to find different markers to locate the disease and to help everybody become more aware that breast cancer is out there, and it is super important that you do your annual mammograms.” Chantelle Kern said. "You need to always make sure you are in control of your own health, not a disease. You need to be in control, be positive and to take the necessary actions because you cannot give up. Because the world needs you, your family needs you, and you never know that one person who you can make a difference with — you can be a strong advocate for them if you are a strong advocate for yourself."
One of the best parts of the wheeling day is the special Topless for Tatas trail cut into the Rausch Creek wilderness. It was designed to symbolize the mental and physical battle a cancer patient must endure, with each new trail turn bringing a different obstacle and challenge, and with different paths available to decide how far you want to push yourself and your Jeep. All along the trail are nameplates of event sponsors, as well and ribbons and nameplates of those who have bravely battled this disease — in order to give hope to anyone currently fighting breast cancer.
“This is my fifth year here as a volunteer, and it really means a lot to have all these people out here.," said Binks, one of the event's trail guides and another attendee personally affected by breast cancer. "Knowing that everything goes back (to research), it couldn’t be a better reason.”
