MY NAME IS IDA GOECKEL AND Y’ALL KNOW I AM A TWO TIME BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. THAT’S OLD NEWS. INITIALLY DIAGNOSED IN 2003, AND THEN AGAIN IN 2012, ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE’S BREAST CARE CLINIC AND RADIOLOGY STAFF PROVIDED ME A SECOND OPINION AND CHANCE THAT LED ME TO INDEPENDENTLY EXPLORE MY OPTIONS. WITH CARING, COMPASSIONATE TREATMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, THEY AND THE WNY BREAST 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 AN INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING MY CARE. IN AN EFFORT TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE, I ORGANIZED THE FEMALE MUSICIANS FIGHTING BREAST CANCER BENEFIT SO THAT OTHERS, WHO MAYBE NEEDED MORE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, COULD GAIN THE BENEFIT OF THE SERVICES OFFERED AT THE WNY BREAST RESOURCE CENTER AT ROSWELL PARK. THIS YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM ME IS THIS: IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF TREATMENT ARE UNITED IN ORDER TO TREAT THE PATIENT WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH. I URGE EVERYONE HERE WHO IS A PATIENT, SURVIVOR, OR PART OF THEIR NETWORK TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS UNIFICATION IN ORDER TO BE BEST INFORMED AND TREATED. IT HAS BEEN BOTH HUMBLING AND HEALING TO HAVE FOUNDED AND ORGANIZE 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 BECA– USE PATIENT CARE, COUPLED WITH SELF-ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT, IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS RESEARCH TO FIND A CURE. OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE CLOSE TO $34,000.00. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT I DON’T PUT A FUNDRAISING AND AWARENESS ENDEAVOR LIKE THIS TOGETHER 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:

  1. MARAGARET FREIERT-TICKET TAKER/DOOR PERSON/EVENT DAY COORDINATOR/SET UP/BASKET WRAPPER
    1. JOHN GRACE- MERCH TABLE
    2. TRISH CARLUCCI-HERR-RAFFLE WOMAN/SET UP/50/50
    3. JAIME SUTTER-RAFFLE GIRL/SET UP/50/50 SALES
    4. BONNIE MERTZ-SET UP/ /RAFFLE TICKET SALES
    5. DANIEL GORDON– THE BEST MC EVER
    6. NINA GRACE– SET UP/RAFFLE TICKET SALES
    7. DAWN CLAYBURG– SET UP/MANNING THE BASKETS/BASKET WRAPPER
  2. DWANE HALL, DENISE HALL, JASON HALL, AND KENNY BIRRINGER-OF THE SPORTSMEN’S TAVERN FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND GENEROUSLY DONATING THE VENUE, SOUND, LIGHTS AND BACKLINE AS WELL AS SEVERAL AMENITIES/GUIDANCE TO ENSURE THE EVENT WENT SMOOTHLY. SPECIAL THANKS TO JASON FOR BEING PATIENT WITH MY OCD. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THEM, AND THEIR BARTENDING AND KITCHEN STAFF. ALSO THANKS TO DYLAN ON SOUND AND LIGHTS! GREAT JOB!
  3. ROSWELL PARK’S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION AND TEAM CURE/JULIA HARVEY – FOR THE SANCTIONING OF THIS EVENT AND HELP WITH PROMOTIONS, TEAM CURE KIT, AND FOR REPRESENTING HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF ROSWELL.
  4. ED HOENECK- FROM NIGHTLIFE MAGAZINE FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT IN ADVERTISING AND PROMOTING THIS EVENT. IN ADDITION, TO MARTI GORMAN OF CITYBRATION AND ALSO TO BUFFALO RISING, AS WELL AS RICH FROM RIVERSIDE REVIEW FOR FEATURING THE BENEFIT IN THEIR PUBLICATIONS/ONLINE NEWSLETTERS.
  5. STEPHANIE PETKO- FOR HER HAND CRAFTED OWLS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THIS EVENT.
  6. TO ALL THE PERFORMERS: JAZZLINE, EINAT AGMON, THE GRATEFUL DANS, AND SUE KINCAID AND HER HALL OF FAME BAND! WHAT A GREAT, SUPPORTIVE, SELFLESS, TOP NOTCH LINEUP OF TALENT!
  7. KATIE HILDRETH/NOIZEPRO.COM-THIS YEAR’S ONCE AGAIN OUTSTANDING POSTER DESIGN AND WEB SITE DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE, FACEBOOK PAGE AND PROMOTION.
  8. PHOTOGRAPHER, MIKE MIETLICKI- FOR DONATING HIS OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHIC TALENTS TIME TO TAKE EVENT DAY PICTURES!
  9. THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES/INDIVIDUALS WHO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED EITHER DONATED SERVICES OR RAFFLE PRIZES IN ORDER TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORT:

Joe/Allentown Music, Jamie/Guitar Factory, Mikal/Guitar Center, Vince/Music City, Barry/Terrapin Station, Catherine Grace& family, Tops Markets, Margaret Freiert, Jan Wood, Natalie Deluca, Carmen Torres-Bursie (cds and pink bracelets and light), Donna Robbins, Candy Pacitti, and my generous co-workers from ACCES-VR, Vanessa Rehac/printing, Joelle Brown, Bonnie Mertz, Michael/Bomi Jewelers, Martin/The Gourmet Store, Kim/Elwood Fire Protection, Max Willig, Maureen Szczepanski/Sara & Frank Testa/Public House, Susan Murray-Ross, Ellen Bourn, Onyx/Strange Brew, Hutch, Al & Ernie/Hutch’s and Nye Park Restaurants, Mary/The Phoenix, Nancy Weimer, Natalie Neubauer, Dennis Grace-signs, Blue Mountain Coffee, Raclette’s/Sandra, Celia O’Brien, Dawn McCaslin, New Dawn Hair Design/Barb, Inspiration Point/Claire, Einat Agmon, Susan Royce, Bridget Hawn, and The Gypsy Parlor/Gabby. Thank you for your sense of community support and generosity!

  1. AND FINALLY, TO THE AUDIENCE AND SUPPORTERS. THOSE CARING PARTICIPANTS, WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT TO ATTEND THIS BENEFIT TO SUPPORT A GREAT CA– USE, WITH MUSIC AS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR!
WERE ABLE TO RAISE CLOSE TO $3400.00!