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Grandeur of gala does not detract from cause
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
Jan and William Travers, owners of Westlawn Inn in North Beach, talk with Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) Thursday at the 28th annual Celebration of Life Cancer Crusade Gala at the Rod ‘N' Reel in Chesapeake Beach.
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To a stranger observing the 28th Annual Celebration of Life Cancer Crusade Gala on Thursday, the breezy summer event would appear to be far and away from anything about the life threatening disease.
This was not, however, the case, as just about everyone who attended the gala at Chesapeake Beach Hotel & Spa Rod 'N' Reel Restaurant had in some way been touched by the disease, which raised money for the American Cancer Society.
There was Denny Murray of Dunkirk, who was, as of Thursday, 45 days free from leukemia and kidney cancer.
"It feels fantastic," Murray said. "It has been a blessing; it's totally indescribable and helped not only by the fine doctors, but by the prayers of many, many people."
Murray explained that his sponsorship of the gala did not begin due to his own battle with cancer, but instead because he lost his mother and sister to the disease.
Ethel Lou Bennett, the aunt of the gala's organizer, former Chesapeake Beach mayor Gerald Donovan, also knew first-hand about the disease, having lost a daughter to lung cancer.
"She lived four years and three days, and it took her. She's in a better place," said Bennett, who also had a spot removed from one of her lungs, but had recently had her eight-month checkup and was doing well.
"I didn't have it real bad, thank goodness," she said.
Coming out to support the cause were many of not only Calvert County, but the state of Maryland's most prominent figures.
House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) said that he was thrilled to attend the event, which he has often had to miss due to Congress being in session.
"This is one of the biggest events in Southern Maryland; it's seen extraordinary growth in the last 28 years," Hoyer said, adding "… I think this is an extraordinary event that involves all the communities … Every family in America understands cancer."
Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George's) said that while the gala was "the highlight of my social season," the event was also about quality of life and cancer prevention.
"The key is to make people aware," said Miller, who cited colonoscopies and mammograms as "preventative measures [that] are out there until we find a cure."
To Calvert County Commissioner Barbara Stinnett (D) such a cure might not be too out of reach.
"Lord knows [cancer] has caused enough grief for so many people … and they've already made so much progress," said Stinnett, who believed that while a permanent cure may not come during her lifetime, it hopefully will come in the lifetime of several of Thursday's attendees.
Her colleague, Calvert County Board of County Commissioner's President Wilson Parran (D) said that in addition to having attended the event for several years in the past, "I also use it as an anniversary to donate to the American Cancer Society. And I did today."
Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) said that she has attended the event for nearly 20 years, frequently bringing her husband, who lost his mother to breast cancer when he was 7 years old.
"That's very sad for a family," said Kullen, who also said that as president of the women's caucus of the General Assembly, women's health, particularly breast cancer awareness, is one of its largest issues.
"There's so much attention paid to it that it's more hopeful. There's a sense we're getting closer to a cure," Kullen said.
Throughout the evening, much of the accolades went to not only Donovan, but also to Michael and Sara Middleton of La Plata, who served as honorary chairs for the evening.
"It's been much more fun [than we were expecting]. The people are wonderful," said Michael Middleton, who continued, "The nice thing is the Rod 'N' Reel is absolutely spectacular and we just worked on sponsors and ticket sales."
He said that one of the key reasons he and his wife chose to be involved with the gala is because "just like everybody, we've lost parents and have had many friends who have survived cancer."
Donovan, who organized the fundraiser along with his brother Fred and wife Mary, admitted that putting together such an elaborate fete — consisting of a surf and turf feast, numerous appetizers and desserts, an open bar, bands and dancing — is no easy task.
"It's pretty intensive. It involves a lot of people and volunteers," Donovan said. " … The most rewarding part is every year, more and more survivors show up and attend, and that's why we're doing it."
Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl said that as someone who has been attending the gala since moving to the area in 1985, the transformation he has seen amazes him.
"They've gotten bigger and better, and they raise a lot more money than they used to," said Wahl, who also enjoys the social aspect of the evening, adding "We see people we don't get to see during the rest of the year."
Calvert County Commissioner Linda Kelley (R) echoed this saying she has attended about 15 galas in the past.
"Every year it seems to get better between the music and entertainment, which was outstanding. And the food; they put out a feast for us," Kelley said after the gala. "And everybody was there for a good cause and I certainly commend the Donovans and the volunteers."
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