Back in August 2021, Elliot Ordway helped kayak for his UCLA water polo teammate Patrick Woepse [see above] across the Catalina Channel. Ultimately, Woepse completed a crossing in 12 hours 53 minutes. Combined with his 10 hour 28 minute English Channel crossing in August 2023, Woepse was on his way to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
But to the shock of his two-time Olympic gold medalist wife Maddie Musselman Woepse, family, and wide circle of friends and teammates, Woepse passed away in , October 2024 at the age of 31 due to a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer (NUT carcinoma) after a tough 13-month battle.
His wife and friends carried on Woepse’s legacy by establishing the annual PWF Swim and The Patrick Woepse Foundation.
Now dial forward to September 13th, and Ordway will attempt a Catalina Channel crossing in honor of his late teammate and friend.
Ordway explains, “Pat and I played water polo together at UCLA for four years and stayed close until his death in October 2024 from NUT Carcinoma, a rare lung cancer. In the years after our time at UCLA, Pat took up open water swimming and completed both the Catalina and English Channel crossings. I crewed for him on his Catalina crossing and watched him accomplish something I hadn’t known was possible.
Pat’s guiding principle was ‘We can do hard things.’
In that spirit, I’m taking on this swim in partnership with The Patrick Woepse Foundation that supports NUT Carcinoma and rare cancer research, patient and family care, and advocacy within the rare cancer community.
I’m honored to carry the same principle with me across the Catalina Channel [next week] and grateful that it will benefit those impacted by the disease. My swim is completely self funded and 100% of donations go directly to the foundation [read more here to support the cause].
His wife said, “There is something incredibly special about watching Patrick’s friends continue to carry his spirit forward by choosing to do hard things in service of something bigger than themselves. On September 13, we’ll be cheering Elliot on every mile of the way. We can do hard things.”
Photo of Patrick’s crew (from left to right): Patrick’s Dad (Greg), Daniel Lenhart, Elliot Ordway, Paul Reynolds, Patrick Woepse, Erik Najarian, Anthony Daboub, and Ryder Roberts.
PWF Swim
The second annual 2000-yard PWF Swim and Walk 2026 will be held on September 26th in Newport Beach, California.
“We can do hard things,” is the mission of the Foundation.
Teammate and long-time childhood friend Paul Reynolds explained the genesis of this particular course. “During the Covid pandemic, we came down here and swam to the pier and back when all the pools were closed starting in March 2021. We kept this up a year and a half 4 days per week. And, of course, Patrick continued on doing it [to prepare for his English Channel and Catalina Channel crossings].“
Touching the pilings of the Newport Beach pier was key – something that Woepse never failed to do on each of his practice ocean swims.
The Patrick Woepse Foundation
The Foundation honors the life of Woepse while raising awareness for NUT Carcinoma and other rare cancers. The pillars of the Foundation are built upon Woepse’s legacy, innovative collaboration, hard work, and resilience with the aid to advocate for rare cancer research and trials, patient and family care, and areas that need change within the NUT Carcinoma community.
The Foundation works alongside the Dana-Farber Institute, the Crabtree Lab at Stanford and University of North Carolina to offer its support and funds to help push for change.
NUT Carcinoma
NUT Carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cancer, primarily diagnosed in young adults. NUT Carcinoma is a midline cancer, meaning it is found in the head, neck, chest (lung) or abdomen. Symptoms include unintentional weight loss, fatigue, pain, cough and shortness of breath.
One of the most concerning aspects of NUT Carcinoma is its rapid progression and resistance to standard cancer treatments. Because it is so rare, it is often misdiagnosed or discovered at an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat. Researchers are actively working to develop better therapies.
Legacy
A fellow UCLA alumnus Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
As a former water polo player and English Channel (10 hours 28 minutes) and Catalina Channel (12 hours 53 minutes) swimmer, Woepse was an individual whose smile and actions touched those around him. He was the roommate friends wanted, the teammate that players loved, the friend who always showed up, and the brother, son uncle, next-door neighbor, co-worker, and husband that everyone respected. He exuded a positive, enthusiastic, can-do vibe to the air – especialy when times were tough.
His wife, Maddie Musselman Woepse, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, explains the scope and mission of The Patrick Woepse Foundation below.
Ryder Roberts who serves as a board member of the Foundation talked about his teammate:
Looking Down With A Smile
Prior to his Celebration of Life, his wife and Foundation president Maddie Woepse (@maddiemusselman) wrote, “He opened my heart up to what love is and looks like and I will forever do my best to love as hard as Patrick loved from this day forward. He was a true blessing from God.
He battled one of the most rare cancers for over a year, never complained, and fought harder than anyone should have to fight for something in their life✨ He fought EVERY DAY to be here with us as long as he could. His courage was seen daily from day one.
I was so lucky to have gotten a front row seat of Pat’s life for the past 3 years. Our time together was cut way too short. I know for a fact I will continue to share stories of him for the rest of my life… get ready for it all.
I know Pat is looking down and smiling with that perfect smile of his. He is definitely overjoyed to be running and swimming around all freely up in heaven. I can’t wait to run into his arms again one day until then, I promised him I would keep living life with him as my angel, guiding and motivating me, and never ever forgetting the ways he has made my life amazing. He promised me he would continue to show up and all I have to do is just look for him.”
For more information on the Patrick Woepse Foundation, visit www.patrickwoepsefoundation.org.
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