Friends Fight Cancer Through Vintage Arts Market

When Beverley Conrad ran into her friend and longtime Burlingame merchant Moe Munroe at an estate sale about a month ago, they discussed Munroe’s battle with breast cancer and the medical bills it left her with. This conversation inspired Conrad and led to Saturday’s Vintage Arts Market, a holiday boutique benefitting Munroe’s cancer recovery.

“After I heard about Moe having these bills that she needed to pay…I kind of drove away and was struggling with that,” said Conrad.  “I said, ‘I want to do something,’ and she goes ‘Oh, I’ve got friends that would be willing to show up and be vendors,’ and that’s how it snowballed.”

The Vintage Arts Market takes place Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. in the Burlingame Woman’s Club and features Burlingame merchants such as Isabelle de Paz from and Craig Janakos & Co. antiques. While some participants are close friends of Munroe’s, others are simply acquaintances familiar with her as an artist and designer and her work at on Burlingame Avenue.

“I am so touched that my friends have come through for me in this way, and I’m enormously grateful to the community for supporting me,” said Munroe, who has a hopeful prognosis.

Although this type of event is new to Burlingame, Conrad, a psychologist in the area, hopes for its success.  She and other participants plan on handing out flyers in the downtown area Dec. 2 during Burlingame’s holiday celebration while they set up for the market at the nearby Woman’s Club. They also hope residents will wander in while out on Saturday and join the fun.

Breast cancer runs in Munroe’s family, and has hit her sisters, as well.

“When breast cancer strikes one woman, it strikes us all in some way,” Conrad said.

The market will feature vintage pieces, clothing, jewelry, photography, art, music and food. Conrad asked that merchants donate whatever they feel comfortable with from their proceeds, noting the event focuses on showing love and support for Munroe, rather than just finances. 

“I think the goal of the event is to bring those that know and love Moe together to toast a woman who’s very creative and has contributed a lot to the community,” said Conrad. “The purpose of the event is to have some fun and buy some great stuff and pay homage to somebody that [we] love.”

The Vintage Arts Market is Saturday, Dec. 3 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Burlingame Woman’s Club at 241 Park Rd.