Woodstock, IL Group's Sixth Annual Event on October 17, 2010 drew another capacity crowd!
Susan Martino, her daughters, Laura Martino Littner and Tracy Martino Noe, and the Woodstock group did it again in 2010 when 600 women crowded the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, helping to raise over $60,000! Woodstock Bunco continues to be the most successful Bunco For Breast Cancer group with a total raised since inception in 2005 of more than $250,000!
The 2010 was a "star-studded" affair, including the participation of two founding members of Bunco For Breast Cancer--Mary Green and Julie Heneghan. Pat Altman from BCRF also attended and was able to provide an up-to-date progress report on BCRF's funded research.
The Martino Family (pictured above from left to right: daughter, Michelle; Mom. Susan; Dad, Walter and daughters, Laura & Tracy at the 2007 event) and their team join with hundreds of participants, donors and volunteers--plus the Gold, Silver and Bronze corporate sponsors each year at their amazing BFBC event. The Woodstock group spends many months putting their collective energies and fundraising expertise into generating press coverage, soliciting prize donations and corporate sponsors. They rarely take no for an answer.
The Foundation is thrilled to be the beneficiary of such inspiring and heartfelt support.
The images in our slide show above are taken from the Woodstock Bunco web site. For the full slide show and more information, visit Woodstock Bunco!
Background
At their first Bunco For Breast Cancer event, Susan and her daughters Tracy and Laura started out hoping to attract about 100 women and raise one or two thousand dollars for BCRF. But the power of their commitment generated much publicity, press and internet coverage and that first event drew 360 participants and generated $15,000 for the Foundation!
In Susan's own words, she explained how and why the decision to have the event came about:
"I am the proud mother of three daughters. In January 2001, my youngest daughter, Tracy Martino Noe, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of thirty-one. Tracy underwent intense treatment which included chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiation.
"In October 2004, my oldest daughter Laura Martino Littner was also diagnosed with this dreadful disease. Laura underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. During one of Laura's chemo sessions, she, Tracy and I decided we had to put our energies into something positive. Laura had a friend who was involved in a Bunco for Breast Cancer event. Laura called that girl from her hospital bed in the midst of a chemo treatment, and the rest is history."
And in 2008, Susan herself was diagnosed and underwent successful treatment for breast cancer!
