ENCINITAS — Chris Conway, 44, is a man on a mission. Between running his action sports marketing event consulting business and putting the finishing touches on projects around the globe, the former tennis pro is preparing for the second annual Clash at Clairemont, a fundraising event set for March 8.

Conway, an Encinitas resident, is CEO of Grind for Life, an organization dedicated to raising funds to help people with cancer meet the burdensome expenses that come along with the disease.

“Maybe we can’t cure cancer but we can help people pay for airfare to get treatment or help the family in those difficult times,” Conway said.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than one out of three Americans now living will eventually develop cancer. The disease has become the second leading cause of death in the United States, following heart disease.

Grind for Life was founded in 2003, by lifelong skateboarder Mike Rogers, after his second battle with sarcoma cancer. Rogers and Conway began hosting fundraisers to assist those families and cancer patients who otherwise could not afford the expenses that insurance does not cover during treatment.

A sarcoma is a highly malignant and rare type of cancer that arises in the connective tissues in the body. There are approximately 9,800 new cases of soft tissue and bone sarcoma each year in the country according to government statistics. While uncommon among adults, sarcoma is one of the top five most commonly diagnosed cancers among children.

Rogers, who lives in Florida, said he was comforted by the support he received from the action sports community during his radical craniofacial resection surgery and recovery. “The brotherhood of skateboarding came through for me,” he said.

Grind for Life raises funds by hosting skateboarding events and festivals throughout the country. With big name sponsors like PacSun on board, Conway said his job gets more inspiring with each event. “You’d be amazed how much people want to help if you just ask them,” he said.

The first Clash at Clairemont event netted $18,000 that the organization split with the Mission Valley YMCA, where the event was held according to Grind for Life volunteer Tracy Marks. “It’s completely a family-friendly atmosphere with bands, food and the best people in action sports,” Conway said.

Indeed, skateboarding and BMX racing stars such as Tony Hawk, Andy Macdonald, Bucky Lasek, Kevin Robinson and Mat Hoffman will donate their time to participate in demonstrations and sign autographs throughout the event.

“At the hub of action sports is a really big heart,” Conway said.

The organization’s ultimate goal is to secure apartments near Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan, N.Y., so people who are receiving treatment at the hospital can have their family near them.

“We want to be able to provide a comfortable place to stay and make a rough situation a little easier for those who travel long distances for treatment,” Rogers said.

Conway said fundraising never overshadows the overarching mission of the organization.

“It’s about creating awareness and lending support wherever, whenever we can,” he said. “I believe in the little guy because I am one.”

The second annual Clash at Clairemont will take place March 8 at the Mission Valley YMCA, 3401 Clairemont Drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is open to the public with a requested $10 minimum donation to cover food, games, demonstrations, entertainment and raffle tickets.

For more information visit www.clash2.com.