The Williams Barn was the place to be on Friday, October 20 for fun, food, friends… and giving to a great cause! The Sixth Annual Bunco for Boobs fundraiser was a huge success, but probably not where you wanted to be if you were looking for a quiet evening. Over 120 women attended and oh my, was there a lot of talking and laughing!
The fast-paced event had a goal of raising as much money as possible in the short span of 3 hours.This year was our best year yet! Approximately $8,000 was raised through direct donations, the sale of silent auction baskets and raffle tickets.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit four worthy charities focused on breast cancer research and awareness: Susan G. Komen, Helen Knoll Foundation, Susan Love Foundation, and the American Cancer Society.
The Williams Barn was beautifully decorated in shades of pink and most of the attendees wore pink in some form to honor those affected by breast cancer. A lovely “Memory Board” gave attendees a opportunity to read the stories of several brave breast cancer survivors. Kudos to the women who shared their stories this year, and to Joanne Anglin for her time and effort in putting it together!
As in past years, there was a large buffet with a variety of snacks, sandwiches, vegetables and dips, and several decadent desserts! No one went away hungry or thirsty, as there was plenty of wine, lemonade and bottled water.
Bidding was fierce during the silent auction phase of the evening. The 53 beautiful baskets on display were filled with interesting goodies and brought in $3,300. The 50/50 raffle tickets were also hot items and three lucky women went home with $300 each in winnings.
“Do not keep your cell phone in your bra!” This message was delivered loud and clear by Terri Valdez, who gave a powerful speech following the evening’s bunco game. Personally, I was amazed that anyone would keep their cell phone in their bra as it doesn’t sound the least bit comfortable! Terri let us know, however, many women do it without realizing how dangerous it is to breast health. Terri, who is affiliated with Susan G. Komen and herself a breast cancer survivor, also emphasized the importance of self-examinations and being a strong advocate for one’s own health.
David and Susie Knoll, Hidden Meadows residents representing the the Helen Knoll Foundation, encouraged attendees to sign a pledge to make at least one lifestyle change which could lower their risk for breast cancer. A list of beneficial lifestyle choices are available on their website at helenknollfoundation.org.
Thank you to all the attendees, the various businesses and individuals who donated items, and the many volunteers who donated their time and energy for this special event! A special thank you to Wendy Smith-Rogers, chairperson, for helping make this event so successful.