Cancer Concern Center Raises $5,000 at Wharfside

The Cancer Concern Center's Summer Kickoff party on Saturday raised $5,000 that will be used to help cancer patients and survivors.

About 150 people enjoyed the Saturday night fundraiser, featuring live bands, a buffet and lots of sunshine on the Patio Bar at the Wharfside, Channel Drive, Point Pleasant Beach.

The revenue has been sorely needed to help keep the all-volunteer center in operation, since their biggest fundraiser of the year was canceled after Superstorm Sandy.

Since the storm, the center has been dealing with the triple whammy of losing a fundraiser, having less available cash flow than ever, and many of their officials, board members, clients and volunteers being flooded by Sandy, explained Heather Keefe, who does pro-bono public relations and grant writing for the center.

So the Wharfside and the bands coming together to make this fundraiser happen was appreciated more than ever, Keefe noted.

"We're so grateful that Mark Burg arranged for us to have the fundraiser here and that the bands are playing for free," Keefe said, referring to Burg of The Mark Burg Band, who also performed at the event he planned.

Other musical artists who performed are: Pat Karwin; Michael Patrick (Johnny Cash Tribute); Sonny Prewitt (Mangos) and Melanie; John Hanney (harp player); Phil Dezago and Frank Mongalieri (Whiskey Fueled); Brandon Sweeny (Lords of Mercy) and Garett Sweeny (Monster Magnet).

The Cancer Concern Center is an independent, non-profit organization not affiliated with any national organization. Since 1998, the center, staffed solely by volunteers, has provided local support programs at its office in Point Pleasant Beach for women and men with cancer. Programs include support groups, nutritional counseling, meditation, journaling, yoga, and new wigs, at no mandatory cost.

Shore 2 Recover, another local group based in Point Beach, was also at the event Saturday, selling sweatshirts, and they donated part of the proceeds to the center. Shore 2 Recover volunteers have been cleaning out, renovating and rebuilding homes flooded by Sandy.

Those who would benefit from any of the services offered by the Cancer Concern Center, or those who would like to volunteer or donate, can visit their website or Facebook page (which has some fun, band photos from Saturday night).

Those who would benefit from services offered by Shore 2 Recover, or those who would like to volunteer or donate, can visit their website and Facebook page.

Editor's Note: In the photo: Lisa Montalbano, on the left, top row, is the office manager at the Cancer Concern Center. Her cousin next to her, Judie Zimmerman, her daughter, Brittany Montalbano, husband, Ken, and son, Kenny, all ran in the New Jersey Marathon on Sunday to raise more money for the Cancer Concern Center. Alexis Bornstad (long red hair) was one of the volunteers from the Shore 2 Recover group who sold sweatshirts at the center's fundraiser. Lisa Sinscall, who owns Third Hand Bookkeeping Service, Point Borough, is a cancer survivor now donating her time doing bookkeeping for the Cancer Concern Center. Photo was shot Saturday evening at the Wharfside Patio Bar.