Farmingdale's Nutty Irishman To Host 'Rock Against Cancer' Event Friday

FARMINGDALE, NY — Farmingdale's Nutty Irishman will be hosting a "Rock Against Cancer" event on Friday, with all proceeds benefitting the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education, presented by LI Making Waves Against Cancer.

The Maurer Foundation raises awareness through action and education. They teach people how to eat healthier, exercise, and perform breast self-exams, as their website states.

Long Island-based pop punk and alternative rock band Final Call will be performing at the event. The lead singer, Pat Carroll, said he chose the Maurer Foundation because his mother and his girlfriend's mother are both battling breast cancer.

Carroll said his band played a similar charity fundraiser for children's cancer organizations last year, but this event, as it focuses on breast cancer, "hits much closer to home this time around."

He said that over the course of the last year, both his mother and future mother-in-law were diagnosed with, and ultimately beat, breast cancer.

"Their difficult roads are far from over, but I have been able to witness firsthand how amazing breast cancer research, treatment, and medical professionals can truly change lives for the better and help struggling families," he said.

He added that he and his bandmates are looking forward to the event and to making a difference.

"As a pop punk band consisting of four best friends, we try not to take ourselves too seriously, while still putting on the best rock and roll show possible, but we realize that this is an opportunity to do some good, using music as the global medium to connect everyone and have a great time," he said.

The Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education was founded in 1995 and is located in Melville. Executive Director and Oceanside resident Susan Samaroo has been the director for the past 13 years. She said she became involved with the foundation because she believes "deeply in the power of education to save lives."

She said the foundation provides education that empowers individuals to understand their personal risk, recognize the importance of early detection, and confidently advocate for their own care.

"Being part of an organization that delivers this information directly toschools, workplaces, healthcare providers, and our local communities, especially those who are often underserved, made joining the foundation anatural decision for me," she said.

Samaroo said they are excited to partner with the well-known local venue and are grateful to the band Final Call, which is donating its talent to support the foundation's mission.

Founder of LI Making Waves Against Cancer, Michael DeSantis, approached the Maurer Foundation with the idea of Rock Against Cancer. Samaroo said it was an immediate, "yes."

"Using music and a community-drivenevent to raise awareness for breast health education aligns perfectly withour mission and allows us to connect with new audiences in a meaningful way," Samaroo said. "The goal of Rock Against Cancer is to turn up the volume on both fundraising and awareness for our breast health education programs. At its heart, The Maurer Foundation is focused on saving lives through education by empowering people with the knowledge they need around breast cancer prevention, early detection, risk reduction, and healthy lifestyle choices."

DeSantis said he founded LI Making Waves Against Cancer as a Facebook group and an Instagram page "as a way to connect local cancer charities here on Long Island with one another, as well as with the community at large."

He shared that his godmother died of colon cancer when he was 15 years old.

"I loved her so much and miss her every day," he said. "During my time as a Patch editor, I got to meet people who lost loved ones to cancer — parents who lost children, siblings who lost siblings. As I got to tell their stories, I knew I wanted to take action and help them in any way I could. LI Making Waves Against Cancer was born out of the desire to support these amazing charities that are out there making a difference in memory of the people they love."

The Maurer Foundation currently brings their programs to nearly 90 percent of school districts on LI, and she said events like the one on Friday help make that possible and keep their programs free and accessible.

The show will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, and tickets are $10 for entry. The Nutty Irishman is located at 323 Main Street in Farmingdale.