'Boob-E-Que' Fundraiser for Avon Walk

While this fundraiser’s name may sound funny, the cause it supports is definitely no joke. Seven West Orange women will be hosting the first ever "Boob-E-Que" next month to raise money for the breast cancer cause and spread awareness throughout the community.

One of the fundraiser’s hosts, Beth Sparks, hope this event will bring local support and help them raise money for the annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York. Each participant must raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate, but they all hope to raise more than that.

This is Sparks' first year involved in the cause, but it has always been important to her.

"I’ve wanted do this for a couple of years, but this year my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, which really was the catalyst for me," Sparks said.

With each host having her own inspiration for involvement, they’ve all worked as a team to prepare for both the fundraiser and the walk.

For the "Boob-E-Que," which will take place on Sept. 10 at the Shillelagh Club in West Orange, Sparks and her fellow hosts have come up with all "breast-related" activities to continue the theme, such as a bra slingshot and three-legged races with bras.

To ensure that the money made from the fundraiser will go strictly to the walk, the women have been asking local stores and restaurants to donate items for the fundraiser. Sparks stressed the importance of reaching out to local businesses to raise awareness in the West Orange community. 

The Avon walk, which takes place in October, is hosted by the Avon Foundation, which donates the money from each participant to five different areas of the breast cancer cause including screening and research. 

The 39-mile walk, from the Intrepid to Randall’s Island over a two-day period, is one of the largest in America. Although this is Sparks’ first year doing the walk, she emphasized her desire to go "all out" because the cause is so important.

"We decided on the Avon walk because we felt that it was more of a commitment," Sparks said. "It’s not just something you can show up to on a Saturday morning."

Sparks noted that aside from the fundraising, all the woman have been working on training for the walk itself by doing two-to-three-hour walks for eight to 10 miles each day. 

For the walk, the seven women will be split into a team of four and a team of three, with Sparks team being "The Rowdy Racks." Although they know the walk will be tough, they are all friends and will motivate each other, Sparks said.

Sparks also noted that seeing breast cancer survivors do the walk will be an inspiration.

One of Spark’s teammates, Jennifer Russoniello, who is also doing the walk for the first time, noted that she’s seen friends and family affected by breast cancer throughout her life, which encouraged her involvement.

She added, "The money raised for the walk goes to places in the Tri-state area, which really makes us feel like we’re giving back to our community as well."

The other West Orange women involved are Leigh Dudy and Valary Dornfeld on "Rowdy Racks," and Laura Giammarino, Andrea Geroldi, and Irma Alvarez on "Team Cindy Lu."

To get "Boob-E-Que" tickets prior to the event call (973) 309-0206 or e-mail boobeque15@yahoo.com. The tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

If anyone has someone they’d like to donate in memory of or in honor of, please send in the name. The women will carry the names with them throughout the walk for further inspiration.