SO..THIS IS MY CHANCE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF THANKS. IF YOU DON’T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS IDA GOECKEL AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND ORGANIZER OF THE FMFBC BENEFIT AND A TWO-TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. THIS BENEFIT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER’S BREAST CARE CLINIC AND RADIOLOGY STAFF PROVIDED ME A SECOND CHANCE THAT LED ME TO INDEPENDENTLY EXPLORE MY OPTIONS. WITH CARING, COMPASSIONATE TREATMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, THEY AND THE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER, GAVE ME HOPE FOR A NEW FUTURE. AS A RESULT OF MY OWN RESEARCH, COMBINED WITH THEIR INPUT, I WAS ABLE TO EMPOWER MYSELF TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING MY CARE. IN AN EFFORT TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE, I FOUNDED AND ORGANIZED THE FEMALE MUSICIANS FIGHTING BREAST CANCER BENEFIT IN 2003, SO THAT OTHERS, WHO MAYBE NEEDED MORE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, COULD BENEFIT FROM THEIR SERVICES. THE SECONDARY MISSION OF THIS BENEFIT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO HIGHLIGHT FEMALE MUSICIANS IN AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN MALE-DOMINATED AND WHO DESERVE EQUAL ATTENTION AND KUDOS. THIS YEAR, THE THEME WAS TO FEATURE THOSE FEMALE INDIE MUSICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN KICKIN’ AROUND BUFFALO FOR DECADES AND CARRIED THE TORCH FOR THE REST OF US. IN RECENT YEARS, I ALSO HAVE DEDICATED THIS BENEFIT TO THOSE WHO DID NOT WIN THEIR BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER. 2021’S HONEREE IS ELISE ROSE PUCKHABER. HER FAMILY MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: “SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL, KIND, FUN-LOVING YOUNG WOMAN, WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF BREAST CANCER. SHE WAS 31 YEARS OLD. BECAUSE OF HER AGE, NO HISTORY, AND LACK OF INSURANCE WHEN SHE FOUND A LUMP IN HER BREAST AT 25 YEARS OLD, SHE DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER TREATMENT. FOUR YEARS LATER SHE WENT TO THE LOCAL ER DUE TO SEVERE BACK PAIN AND LEFT WITH THE DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS OF OF STAGE 4 CANCER IN HER BREAST, LIVER, AND SPINE, WITH THE PRIMARY SITE BEING HER BREAST. THE NEXT 18 MONTHS SHE WAS UNDER THE CARE OF ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER. HER CARE DURING THIS TIME WAS EXCEPTIONAL. AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT STARTED IMMEDIATELY, INCLUDING CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION AND SURGERY, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE RAPID GROWTH OF HER TYPE OF CANCER, IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SHE LOST HER BATTLE ON MARCH 12, 2021. SHE FOUGHT WITH SUCH DIGNITY AND COURAGE, NEVER QUESTIONING WHY IT WAS HAPPENING TO HER. SHE CHANGED THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE, LEAVING US WITH SO MUCH LOVE AND WONDERFUL MEMORIES, TEACHING US WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE. WE WILL FOREVER HAVE A PART OF OUR HEART GONE, BUT ARE THANKFUL WE WERE A PART OF HER LIFE, HOWEVER SHORT IT WAS. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CARED FOR AND LOVED THIS AMAZING YOUNG WOMAN.”
I ALWAYS SAY THIS AND MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART: IT IS BOTH HUMBLING AND HEALING TO HAVE FOUNDED AND ORGANIZED THIS BENEFIT. I PROMISE YOU MY EFFORTS WILL NEVER STOP AS LONG AS THERE ARE BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS WHO RELY ON THE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT OF THIS CENTER. I HAVE MADE IT MY MISSION TO RAISE MONIES THAT GO DIRECTLY TO THIS SPECIFIC AREA AT ROSWELL BECAUSE PATIENT CARE, COUPLED WITH SELF-ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT, IS THE KEY TO A POSITIVE MINDSET BEFORE, DURING, AND POST-DIAGNOSIS.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I DON’T PUT A FUNDRAISING AND AWARENESS ENDEAVOR TOGETHER LIKE THIS ALL BY MYSELF. I VIEW MYSELF AS MERELY THE FACILITATOR THAT WATCHES AS HER IDEA COMES TO FRUITION EVERY YEAR. THIS FUNDRAISER RECEIVES NO FINANCIAL CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP BUT IS A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-SPONSORED EVENT BY ALL THOSE WHO HAVE A HAND IN MAKING IT HAPPEN. NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WHO I’D LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME NOW TO THANK FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART:
- MY HANDFUL OF EXTREMELY AND FAITHFULLY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS:
a. MARAGARET FREIERT-TICKET TAKER/DOOR PERSON/EVENT DAY COORDINATOR/SET UP/BASKET WRAPPER
b. JOHN GRACE– SET UP/TICKET SALES
c. MARGO IMPROTA STAUFFER– SET UP/RAFFLE TIX SALES
d. RENAE GOECKEL- THIS YEAR’S OUTSTANDING MC
e. NINA GRACE– SET UP/50/50 SPLIT SALES/MERCH SALES
f. TRACY AESCHBACHER– SET UP ORGANIZATION AND MONITOR
g. VIN GOECKEL-HEAVY LIFTING AND RELIEF HELP
*h. LISA AESCHBACHER-DECORATIONS/MERCH SALES
*i. CATHERINE & DENNIS GRACE– DECORATIONS
k. KRISTEN PEPE – MERCH SALES/ 50/50 SPLIT
*l. ANN AESCHBACHER –DECORATIONS/ RAFFLE TIX SALES RELIEF
2. DWANE & DENISE HALL, JASON HALL, AND KENNY BIRRINGER-OF THE SPORTSMEN’S TAVERN FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR GENEROUSLY DONATING THE VENUE, SOUND, LIGHTS, AND BACKLINE AS WELL AS SEVERAL AMENITIES/GUIDANCE, AND TIX SALES TO ENSURE THE EVENT GOES SMOOTHLY. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THEM. THANKS TO THE HARDWORKING BARTENDING AND KITCHEN STAFF. THANKS TO THE SUPERB SKILLS OF JOHN SHOTWELL ON SOUND AND LIGHTS!
*3. ROSWELL PARK’S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION AND TEAM ROSWELL/JULIA HARVEY & MARY RUSSO– FOR THE SANCTIONING OF THIS EVENT!
4. VANESSA REHAC FOR PRINTING AND DENNIS GRACE FOR SIGN MAKING EVERY YEAR WITHOUT QUESTION.
5. TO ALL THE PERFORMERS: MARIA SEBASTIAN, ALEX LYNNE & CO. WITH JIM WHITFORD.,THE ALISON PIPITONE BAND, AND TLC FEATURING THERESA QUINN, LEAH ZICARI, AND CATHY CARFAGNA! WHAT A GREAT, SUPPORTIVE, SELFLESS, TOP-NOTCH LINEUP OF TALENT!!
6. KATIE HILDRETH/NOIZEPRO.COM-THIS YEAR’S ONCE AGAIN OUTSTANDING POSTER DESIGN, WHICH INCLUDED MY FAVORITE THEME..AN OWL, AS WELL AS THE WEBSITE DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE, FACEBOOK PAGE, AND PROMOTION.
*7. PHOTOGRAPHY-EVERYONE WHO POSTED PICTURES TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT DAY!
8. THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES/INDIVIDUALS WHO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED DONATED RAFFLE PRIZES IN ORDER TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORT. WE ACTUALLY HAD TOO MANY BASKETS AND SOME ARE ON HOLD FOR NEXT YEAR! THAT’S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE!
THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY, FOLKS:
Joe/Allentown Music, Rob/West Seneca Music, Pasta Peddler/Andrea, Sue and Ciara/Her Sanctuary, Barry/Terrapin Station, Jacqueline/Riviera Theatre, Catherine Grace& family, Tops Markets, Party City, Denise/Board & Brush, Renae Goeckel, Margaret Freiert, Natalie Deluca, Kelley Mathieson, Sarah Wolf, Marlene Martin, Jeanette Eisenhauer, Michael/Bomi Jewelers, Kim/Elwood Fire Protection, Max Willig, Celia O’Brien, Lynn Schmeidler, Kevin Bowen/Industrial Nostalgia, Doreen Deboth/Artsphere on Chandler, Daneen Deboth Wollstrum/Discontinued Beauty, Michelle Graves/Blackrock Historical Society, Ellen Bourn, Joan Bellus , Dave/The Phoenix at 269, Hutch/Ernie/Hutch’s Restaurant, Amanda Bott Holistic Organic Beauty, Paul/Colvin Cleaners, Kenmore Fish Market, Richard Sargent/BMHOF, Elizabeth Schichtel, Terrie George, Susan Murray-Ross, Angelo & Sarah/Ashker’s, Nancy Weimer, Butch Kalson, Limelight Music, Jennifer Durfey, Lisa Aeschbacher, Lazara/Pausa Art House, and Jan Wood. Thank you for your sense of community support and generosity! BE PROUD OF YOUR COMMUNITY!!!!
9. AND FINALLY, TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED, AND THOSE CARING PARTICIPANTS, WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT TO SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE, WITH MUSIC AS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL AND MEANINGFUL YEAR!
THIS YEAR I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WITH AN IMPRESSIVE ROOM OF 132 THRU THE DOOR, NOT INCLUDING THE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, MUSICIANS, WE RAISED A TOTAL OF $3625.00 IN CASH!!!!! COMBINED WITH GENEROUS CHECK DONATIONS, THE GRAND TOTAL WAS $4583.00!!!
THANK YOU ALL!!!!