Over 2,000 People Came To His Wake!

Friday night of Memorial Day weekend is when you hit the road for that long weekend that kicks off the summer.

Well this particular Memorial Day Friday night was different. Just about two years ago now a local family in Oceanport was saying goodbye to someone they loved more than I could ever describe to you. Bob Brummer had lost his battle with MDS, a blood cancer that took him way too soon with no help to save him.

It was hot, it was a holiday weekend and the line to just walk through Fiore's Funeral home stretched far out the door and over 2 hours to wait to come in. The Oakhurst Police were called to handle traffic out front and the funeral home said they wouldn't have to advertise for a year with the turn out. The people waited, they cried, they laughed, they remembered and they paid their respects to a man who was so simple and down to Earth that he may be best known for never wearing his shirt!

When Poppy (Bob) was in the hospital, we had a moment alone where he turned to me and simply said "I can't believe I have this."  A simple and matter-of-fact statement that packed a gut wrenching acknowledgement that he knew he wouldn't survive. I will NEVER forget that sentence for as long as I live.

Now as for me, I am just his daughter-in-law. Poppy had a wife and four sons that were his world. They all worked in the family business (Brummer's Tree Service) and grew up with this character of a father and husband always keeping them laughing, secure and loved. His four granddaughters had a teddy bear of a Poppy that would paint their finger nails and entertain them for hours on end. A true friend. And for his daughter in laws, there was no better father in law. To watch how their lives changed after his passing was so sad. There is of course such a void and emptiness and he's missed constantly. We all went on with our lives and work and I got back to business as usual at Skin and Bones Day Spa.

After Poppy died I decided I would do what I could and I held a Bone Marrow Donor Drive. Two of them actually and a blood drive. I figured it all matters. But this year while my plate was heaping with "things to get done" I was approached by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to do more. They wanted to nominate me to compete in a 10 week fund raising competition called The Man and Woman of the Year. WHAT!!! 10 weeks of fund raising?

I am running a business. I donate to everyone all of the time. I have 'Restore The Shore' necklaces for sale at the spa, I give to the SPCA, the schools, the towns, the food banks and on and on and on. You want me to fund raise while we are still cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy? I thought, "these people are nuts!" I pleaded with them to understand that I am a "Day Spa Owner,"  I'm not a corporate machine. I pleaded for them to understand that I was busy and that I appreciate them asking me.

Do you know how the rebutted? They told me that only a certain type of person can take this on because it's a huge challenge. Someone with a wide network, a philanthropic desire, passion for finding a cure, social, ambitious, competitive spirit and successful in marketing themselves. Why? Because it's that much of an effort and it's that important. So as I pushed my chair back to run away from these two crazy women, I thought about something...that simple statement... "I can't believe I have this." UGHHH!!!! I settled myself back in my seat, took a calming moment and thought: Who else is saying that to someone at this very moment? What other families are wishing there was something encouraging to save their father or mother or friend? I knew this would be a challenge because of the total devastation of Hurricane Sandy but I also knew that after we cleaned up from the storm ... Cancer would still be here.

I caved. I accepted the nomination and with two weeks to prep for the kick off on April 4, I cleared some room on my plate and got to work. I set a crazy personal goal to raise $50,000 dollars by June 15. I couldn't just go along and be calm and raise 'some' money. I had to shoot for the above average amount. I chose this crazy number because I learned if anyone in this contest raises $50k they can name a research project and you know I want to name one after Bob Brummer!

So here I am at the end of April in a nationwide contest, I am one of two women competing in New Jersey and we have raised about $13,000 thus far. I'm really proud about the success at this point and I can NOT begin to express to you the goodness I am seeing in man kind. It's been a humbling and overwhelming experience of generosity and community.

I hope all of you reading this check back on our progress. I hope you all come to the events we have planned for the next 6 weeks and support us. I hope if you know someone who is waiting for a cure to come their way that you can tell them people are working on it right now! Hang in there.

There is one other important thing that I think you should all know. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society doesn't only research cures for blood cancers, they have drugs being tested right now for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. Oh and success with Melanoma's and MS !

So please keep track, tell your friends, support the fight and by all means, join our Facebook page to get involved. Here are some upcoming events:

• May 10th we are at the Brighton Bar in West End
• May 11th at Even Flow Yoga in Red Bank at 2:00 
• May 17th at Skin and Bones Day Spa in Little Silver for a facial event 
• May 22nd at Skin and Bones Day Spa for a wax-a-thon from 2-8 and
• June 1st in Rumson at Piping Rock Park from 4-8 for a Corn Hole Tourney
• June 1st at the Long Branch Elks from 4- midnight for live music, gift auctions, food and fun! More to come!

And because Poppy was such an avid fisherman, his wife Judy helped me come up with the name of our campaign ... "Hooked On A Cure"

If you or anyone you know would be interested in making a tax deductible donation in memory of Bob or someone you loved, please join our campaign and donate to:

You can copy and paste this link into your web browser or find the live link on our Facebook page. To mail a check if you'd like, here is how:

Checks Payable to : Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

in the memo:  Erica Melone-Brummer

send to:  LLS  -  14 Commerce Drive  -  Suite 301  -  Cranford, NJ 07016

Attention:  MWOY

Thank you,

Erica