Christmas Without Cancer: SuperSurvivor Celebrates With Pink Martinis, Live Music at O'Rourke's

Beverly resident Eileen Guest’s “Cancer Treatment is Over!” party takes place Saturday, August 30, 2014 at O’Rourke’s Office, which is offering up Pink Martinis for the Labor Day Weekend to benefit Christmas Without Cancer.

Guest, who will front the Betty Bokimba Band, chose Christmas Without Cancer because of her familiarity with founder Gerri Neylon’s work in coming to the financial and emotional rescue of local families facing cancer challenges. With her last radiation treatment for breast cancer behind her, Guest, a former police officer, decided to dust off the guitar, celebrate and raise some money for Christmas Without cancer.

Guest said she found solace in Neylon’s advice and inspiration in the group’s mission.

“I was drawn to Gerri’s organization because they help local families and I knew some of those families,” said Guest. “You know exactly where your money is going when the help is local. That feels good.”

Dave Kriedemann, O’Rourke’s Office owner, embraces the local effort as well, and has extended the Pink Martini campaign (including a non-alcoholic mix) for the entire weekend.

Christmas Without Cancer will benefit from monies raised through the evening’s raffles, split the pot and the special Pink Martinis. There is no cover charge and pizza and snacks are on the house. Doors open early and the music starts at 9 p.m. Guest is joined on stage by her son, guitarist Dan Cantone, mandolin and bass player Roy McNaughton and drummer Pat Keelen, young musicians who have developed their own following locally with an adult progressive format and contemporary covers.

BACKGROUND

Christmas Without Cancer provides gifts and basic necessities to Southland families with members stricken with cancer.

In each of the last 11 years, Evergreen Park resident Gerri Neylon, a nurse in the radiation oncology department at Advocate Christ Medical Center, has led a team of volunteers on a seasonal blitz to bring holiday cheer to families affected by cancer. Partners such as the have offered to “carry their water,” introducing new circles of friends into the donation effort.

Neylon knows first hand the burden cancer inflicts on a family.

“The families’ challenges are physical, emotional and financial,” Neylon said. “The CWC team takes great satisfaction in addressing some of those challenges so the family can devote themselves to each other during the beautiful Christmas season.”

Since 2003, the organization has quietly identified and adopted multiple families in late fall and by Christmas season supplied them with gift cards for groceries, medications and gas, among other “need” items.

Christmas Without Cancer enjoyed a break out season in 2012, raising awareness and more money than in most previous years, despite a down economy. Neylon attributes it to longevity and the innate desire people have to give “especially at Christmas time.” Neylon didn’t know what to expect when she began the journey and is surprised a decade has passed so quickly.

The recent success has provided “pennies from heaven” for families year round. As the checks or donations come in, Neylon is able to quietly match it to need or even hardship that can be addressed with just a few hundred dollars.

“The media has been like a partner to us this last year,” said Neylon. “We enjoyed wonderful print and television coverage and then people and businesses who saw the stories just sent checks in that we were able to distribute to families truly in need. Being able to help beyond the Christmas season has been a pleasant surprised for me and families in need.”

Neylon also cited the group’s decision to participate in the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Evergreen Park Independence Day parades and the Beverly Breast Cancer Walk as ways of giving back while also building awareness “with those who see a bigger picture in life.”

Submitted by Figel Public Relations.