Photos: 'Denim and Diamonds' Benefits the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, to Beat Breast Cancer

Patch photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com.

SOUTHAMPTON, NY-Once again, a crowd turned out to fight back against breast cancer in Southampton.

The “Denim and Diamonds” winter gala and fundraiser was held on Saturday at 230 Elm in Southampton, to benefit the Ellen Hermanson Foundation.

This year’s motto was “Give Breast Cancer the Boot”, with a Western-themed evening of food, fun and dancing to the hot music of DJ Double S.

In attendance were Southampton Hospital’s CEO and President Robert S. Chaloner and Steven Bernstein, as well as Julie Ratner and Hope Kramer of Ellen’s Run. Honorees were Charline Spektor, owner of BookHampton, and Susie Barry Roden, of the Ellen Hermanson Foundation and Ellen’s Run.

Food and spirits vendors included Alexa Wolf and Sondra Vecchio of Smokin’ Wolf, Nate Payne of the Crooked Ladder Brewing Co., Bob and Dara Abrams of little red, David Rosen of Ubons Bloody Mary, Sara and Bernard Kiembock and Alejandra Vivas of Dona Sarita Mezcal, Chris Tonti and Chris Robbins of Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, Dand ejesus Deli & Grocery.

Family and friends of the honorees and organizers included Larry Zimmerman, Elizabeth Wood, Gabriel Nussbaum — who also served as live auctioneer — congressional candidate and former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, and Gallerist Tulla Booth. Line dancing experts Ashleigh McNeill and Ray Macygin led the enthusiastic crowd in some spirited stepping.

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation was established in 1997 to honor the memory of Ellen Hermanson and carry on the important work to which she devoted so much of her time and energy. “An activist and an advocate, Ellen channeled her journalistic talents to become a forceful voice for breast cancer patients and their families. She educated her readers about the importance of early detection, the challenges of living with breast cancer, the very real, but little-discussed or understood, issue of pain management, and the debilitating effects of breast cancer on the entire family,” according to the Ellen’s Run website.

Additional reporting by Richard Lewin.