Kayak Camp For Young Adult Cancer Survivors — Interview with Brad Ludden of First Descents

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Brad Ludden, Founder of First Descents

Last weekend I had a chance to meet Brad Ludden at the OMG Cancer Summit in New York.  Brad literally might have the best job in the world. Commonly known as one of the best professional kayakers in the world, Brad has traveled to over 40 countries as Nike’s first sponsored kayak athlete and can be seen gracing the cover of magazines such as Outside, Men’s Health and Men’s Journal.

But that’s not all he does.  In 2000, at the age 18, Brad founded the non-profit foundation, First Descents in order to provide those affected by cancer the chance to utilize whitewater kayaking and other outdoor adventures in order to play a key role in their overall recovery process. 

Since so many in the GiveForward community are raising money for young adults with cancer, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share this great resource with you all.   If you know of a young adult cancer survivor (age 18-39) please let them know about First Descents. (PS this amazing program is FREE!!)

I interviewed Brad for Nike’s Play City Blog where you can read the original interview in its entirety.  Here are some excerpts…

What is a first descent?

As an athlete, a first descent is the first time someone successfully completes a section of a river.  There’s a heightened level of exploration, risk and challenge involved so the reward for completing it is even greater.   Between kayakers there is a level of mutual respect when you complete one, and after you’ve done one, you’re a changed person.

So how does this work? What class rapids are these when you’re doing a first descent?

[laughs] They’re the don’t screw up class.    When you’re doing a first descent the classes become kind of irrelevant.  I suppose the rapids could be classified as class Vs and VIs but since it’s the first time anyone has ever run these rapids, it takes it up another level where the slightest mistake can be fatal.  You don’t have the option to screw up.

Brad taking on some class “don’t screw up class” rapids.

Can you tell us a little bit more about what inspired you to start First Descents?

My aunt was diagnosed with cancer when I was a teenager.  It was the first time that cancer had intruded on any of our lives and it was devastating. I wanted to do something to help so I started teaching people with cancer how to kayak, it was all I knew to give.  In the beginning I saw that it was doing something to help but wasn’t sure what that was.  What I WAS sure of was that it was doing a lot to help me.  It was the most rewarding and gratifying thing I had ever done.  Then, when I was 18 I realized there wasn’t an adventure program available to people my Aunt’s age with cancer.  In fact, there wasn’t really anything available.  Thus, I decided to start a program that taught young adults with cancer how to kayak and used that as a form of therapy.

Kind of like riding the Log Ride at your county fair…ok…maybe not exactly the same.

Since you’re no longer doing extreme kayaking, what inspires you now?

Watching a participant at camp face a class III rapid and come out on the other side.  For them, this is their first descent.  They’re going through a myriad of emotions.  The same emotions I used to go through on a first descent.  It’s the same range of emotions I used to thrive on as an athlete. We all thrive on it. That’s my first descent now.

So how does a week of kayaking change the campers?

It challenges them to get back to life and living again. Taking on the river and conquering it helps them discover an identity beyond their diagnosis.  My identity isn’t a diagnosis – it’s not testicular cancer or hodgkins’s lymphoma. I’m a human being.  An identity is made up of a million things, not just cancer.

We also hear over and over again from the campers that taking on this challenge restores their sense of control.  When you have been diagnosed with cancer, sometimes it can feel like your world has spun out of control.  But when you take on this challenge head on and beat it, it restores a sense of control to your life.

And lastly, one of the biggest benefits is just meeting other young survivors and hanging out for a week with others who’ve all experienced the same things.   The campers end up building these long-lasting friendships and networks.  By the end of the week, everyone’s got a nickname and everyone is like family.  It’s like they’re all in special club, they all speak the same language and share the same badge of honor for having conquered their own first descent.

“By the end of the week everyone’s got a nickname and everyone is like family.”

How did the nicknames first come about?

It just happened super-organically.  It wasn’t like we sat down and said, hey we’re going to give everyone nicknames.  People just starting calling each other names and they stuck. By the end of the week everyone has gone through so much together, they’re like family.  Even after camp ends, the nicknames stick.  They’re all in this same club now and the nicknames remind them of their new identity.

So what’s your nickname?

You know it’s funny, because I’ve had a million but they’re changing all the time. My most recent one was Daryl.   One of the campers named my mentor and me both the same name after a couple of chickens named Daryl.  I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, you know, being named after a chicken.

Pursue your passion.  Before you can help others, you need to connect with yourself and find out what you really love.

First Descents seems to be growing quite a bit.  What’s the biggest challenge for you guys at this point?

We’re trying to figure out how we can serve more people even better than we were serving them before. Last year, we had 120 applications for 115 spots.  This year we’ve already had 320 applications.    You feel terrible turning people away.  We want to expand the program so that anyone who wants to come can do so.

Do you ever miss the adrenaline rush from your old days?

No, not a bit.  I couldn’t be happier than doing what I’m doing now.  As much as I loved doing all that crazy stuff before, it doesn’t compare to what we’re doing at First Descents.  This is what I’m really passionate about.

Brad has conquered over 100 First Descents in 40 different countries including the Chocolate River in Wonka Land, previously only attempted by Augustus Gloop.

Okay, last Question:  Having started First Descent at 18-years-old, what advice do you have for our readers to help them get their own ideas off the ground?

Pursue your passion.   Before you can help others, you need to connect with yourself and find out what you really love.  As kids, we all have it in us.  Latch onto it.  Pursue it and blindly follow whatever you’re into whether it is football, art, kayaking, whatever.  At one point along the way your eyes will open up and you’ll be in a place to help others.

Cool.  Thanks for the interview.

For more info on First Descents, check out this amazing video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPnRYc5p1e0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]