Friends, family seek support for skateboarding advocate battling cancer

By Matthew Nash • July 12, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Sitting atop the Sequim Skate Park, Mark Simpson remains an advocate for skateboarding and remodeling the park for future generations as he says the sport continues to grow locally. He’s now battling cancer, and family and friends have created a gofundme account, and hold a car wash on July 22 at Discount Tire to help with medical expenses.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Sitting atop the Sequim Skate Park, Mark Simpson remains an advocate for skateboarding and remodeling the park for future generations as he says the sport continues to grow locally. He’s now battling cancer, and family and friends have created a gofundme account, and hold a car wash on July 22 at Discount Tire to help with medical expenses.

Friends and family are rallying support around Sequim Skate Park’s biggest advocate.

Mark Simpson, 51, has held fundraisers since 2016 and reached out to many businesses/organizations seeking support to remodel the park and help skaters of all ages.

In May, he was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal and stomach cancer.

Doctors initially thought he had heartburn, he said in an interview at the skate park.

“I lost a bunch of weight, couldn’t eat anything,” he said. “I threw up blood, and that’s when things went faster (for a diagnosis).”

He started treatment at the Olympic Medical Cancer Center, and the good news so far, he says, is that the tumor has shrunk.

In an online campaign for Simpson, his friend Gary Barss wrote, “The main focus for Mark right now is his health and his treatments and this has forced him to take medical leave and go on disability.

“He is grateful to have this benefit but over time it will be difficult to handle the medical expenses and support the family as he progresses through the coming weeks.”

To offset ongoing medical costs, an online fundraiser was set up at gofundme.com/f/a4fujs-love-for-mark-shelly-and-family.

A car wash to support Simpson runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at Discount Tire, 981 W. Washington St., Sequim.

Family and friends

Simpson said his coworkers at Costco, where he’s worked for 10 years, have been great to him in his tenure and about time off for treatment and recovery.

Josh Gahr, Simpson’s major supervisor, said Simpson is a great person and he’s also an integral part of the sales team that makes it number one in their district for online sales.

Coworker Shannon Poirier said Simpson is an inspiration and he gave her tips to help her child get into skateboarding.

“You don’t see many people skating his age,” she said.

Donations have remained integral for Simpson and his family, he said, as his disability insurance wasn’t available right away so they’ve been paying bills and for other daily needs with help from community support.

He’s been married to his wife Shelly for 30 years. They have three children: Tolin, 24, Ayden, 22, and Emma, 11.

“(My family is) doing pretty good,” Simpson said of the diagnosis. “They know it’s difficult.”

In a video posted online, Simpson said his faith in God has made him feel stronger through the process.“I’m gonna beat this and get back to ollies,” he said.

Skateboarding

Simpson was highlighted a few years ago in the Gazette for his effort to do an ollie — a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap without hands — each day for a full year.

“It’s a basic trick, and I like that feeling of a pop and floating,” he said.

He tried to replicate it this year and got to day 141 on May 21 before pain and weakness caused him to pause.

Simpson started skating at age 12 in Springfield, Ore.

“Mostly it was because of the freedom,” he said. “It challenges you.”

In the skating subculture, Simpson said he found his family, too.

He resonates with late-skateboarder Jay Adams’ quote: “You didn’t quit skateboarding because you got old, you got old because you quit skateboarding.”

Said Simpson, “I just decided not to stop as an adult.”

That passion carried into founding the 501(c)3 nonprofit Sequim Youth Skate Park Foundation to better the Sequim Skate Park in Carrie Blake Community Park.

Simpson, the foundation’s president, said they’ve raised about $22,000 so far with hopes of a $25,000 matching grant and other grants and contributions.

A preliminary design has been made and a remodel is in the City of Sequim’s Parks Master Plan, he said, but the project would cost between $700,000 and $1 million.

“It’s drastically needed because it’s used all the time,” Simpson said.

He feels the local skateboarding community has grown, and each event, including a May fundraiser, sees support grow too.

“We get a lot of support from Libtech, restaurants and the community,” he said.

“We want to keep momentum going while Mark is out,” Poirier said.

To support remodeling efforts, go to sequimyouthskateparkfoundation.com.

Find the foundation on social media at instagram.com/sysk8parkf and on Facebook under “Sequim Skate Park Remodel/Expansion.”

Photo courtesy Mark Simpson/ At age 51, Sequim’s Mark Simpson catches high air performing an ollie earlier this year. The trick was something he planned to do everyday this year until a cancer diagnosis had him put the effort on hold, he said.

Photo courtesy Mark Simpson/ At age 51, Sequim’s Mark Simpson catches high air performing an ollie earlier this year. The trick was something he planned to do everyday this year until a cancer diagnosis had him put the effort on hold, he said.

Photo courtesy Mark Simpson/ At a Sequim Youth Skate Park Foundation fundraiser in 2022, Mark Simpson skates during the festivities. He continues to seek support to remodel the Sequim Skate Park.

Photo courtesy Mark Simpson/ At a Sequim Youth Skate Park Foundation fundraiser in 2022, Mark Simpson skates during the festivities. He continues to seek support to remodel the Sequim Skate Park.

Image courtesy Mark Simpson On May 21, or day 141, Mark Simpson stopped his journey to do an ollie a day for a year. An ollie launches a skateboard and skater upward without hands. Simpson said he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and paused doing tricks during treatment and recovery.

Image courtesy Mark Simpson On May 21, or day 141, Mark Simpson stopped his journey to do an ollie a day for a year. An ollie launches a skateboard and skater upward without hands. Simpson said he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and paused doing tricks during treatment and recovery.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Shoes synonymous with skating, Mark Simpson said he has at least 31 pairs of Vans shoes, including this pair he designed himself. He plans to post a picture a day of his different shoes in hopes to raise funds through the company for the Sequim Youth Skate Park’s efforts to remodel the Sequim Skate Park.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash Shoes synonymous with skating, Mark Simpson said he has at least 31 pairs of Vans shoes, including this pair he designed himself. He plans to post a picture a day of his different shoes in hopes to raise funds through the company for the Sequim Youth Skate Park’s efforts to remodel the Sequim Skate Park.