21 Jul BREASTFEST AT THE STARBOARD, JULY 24TH
On Sunday, July 24th from 2:30-6PM, The Starboard Restaurant in Dewey Beach will host the Annual BreastFest, a community-centered event to raise awareness and money for those fighting breast cancer in Delaware. The deeply personal event was founded a decade ago by Anne O’Brien and her four sisters, who lost their mother to breast cancer when she was just 48 years old.
O’Brien says, “There is a saying when you are fighting breast cancer that if you can make it to the five year mark, you will be okay. Our mom made it just shy of the five year mark when she went into fighting her second round of the illness.”
Since losing her battle to the disease, O’Brien and her family began hosting BreastFests in different cities where they are located, from Georgia to New Jersey, Maryland, and Dewey Beach where O’Brien resides. She had been hosting the event at another Dewey Beach establishment for the last ten years, and when they passed on the event this year, she approached Starboard owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery about hosting the event.
Montgomery, whose own mother also lost the fight against breast cancer, was very keen to host BreastFest. The Starboard is synonymous with community fundraising and particularly known for their charitable events that raise money that stays in the local community, so BreastFest was a great fit on many levels. O’Brien was immediately endeared to the community spirit that rallied around the upcoming event, and noted it was a change of tone that was extremely refreshing.
“People always want to give back, and they don’t always know how, and this is an event where I have seen that emergent community spirit.” O’Brien says, “From Monty to the Dewey Beach community who started putting together baskets for the auction—the community oriented spirit and potential for growth in this direction is so encouraging.”
The event on Sunday, July 24th is FREE to attend, and will raise money through the raffle and auction as well direct donations, and the sale of merchandise with fun phases like “Keep Motor Boating Alive,” and “Save the Girls.” As well, there will be co-branded Starboard and BreastFest clothing items. Kristen and the Noise will be playing acoustically on the deck, and the vibes will be the spirit of celebration and remembrance.
All of the proceeds from the BreastFest event will stay in Delaware to benefit those fighting breast cancer right here in our home state. So come out on Sunday and help commemorate the first year O’Brien and her family are merging their event with The Starboard. The vibe will be true Starboard style, with lots of laughs, music, great company and raising money for a very worthy cause that is personal to Montgomery, O’Brien, and so many of our valued community members.