Surf For A Cause Returns to Margate on September 12

There are plenty of good reasons to spend a Saturday at the beach. On September 12, there will be an especially meaningful one.

The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation’s Surf For A Cause returns to Decatur Avenue Beach in Margate on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Surfers from throughout the region will gather in front of Ventura’s Greenhouse to compete in eight divisions for titles, trophies and the opportunity to support local individuals and families affected by cancer.

It will be a day filled with waves, friendly competition and plenty of activity along the shoreline. But beyond the trophies and bragging rights, Surf For A Cause is about a surfing community rallying around its own—and making sure that families facing cancer do not have to face it alone.

Where the DRCF Story Began

Surf For A Cause is more than one of the Foundation’s signature fundraisers. It is where the story of the DRCF began.

Dean Randazzo was at the top of his professional surfing career when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Initially worried that revealing his illness might cost him the sponsorships that supported his career, Dean publicly shared his diagnosis at the U.S. Open of Surfing in 2001. He then turned his attention toward helping other people facing cancer.

The Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation was established on September 5, 2001. Ten days later, the first Surf For A Cause was held in Margate and raised more than $20,000. Dean’s mother, Mary Lou Randazzo, even hosted the event’s original after-party in her backyard.

That first gathering set the tone for everything that followed: a close-knit community, a shared love of the ocean and a determination to turn a difficult diagnosis into something positive.

Still Making Waves 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years after that inaugural event, Surf For A Cause continues to bring surfers, spectators, volunteers, sponsors and local businesses together for a day that is both fun and deeply meaningful.

Since its inception, the DRCF has donated more than $500,000 to individuals battling cancer and their families. The Foundation has also supported regional cancer organizations and care providers throughout South Jersey.

Join Us on the Beach

Whether you are competing, cheering from the sand, supporting a favorite surfer or simply looking for a great way to spend a September day at the Shore, we hope you will join us.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 on Decatur Avenue Beach, Margate, directly in front of Ventura’s Greenhouse.

The competition will take place across eight divisions, with titles and trophies on the line. More importantly, every wave ridden and every dollar raised will help the DRCF continue supporting people affected by cancer.

Visit TheDRCF.org for competition, sponsorship, donation and event information.

Come for the waves. Stay for the community. Surf for a cause.