Women helping women in Lodi
Lodi breast cancer survivor Marci Jones invites community to weekend fundraiser
More than a year since she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Marci Jones is doing pretty well. She has completed her cancer treatments and will be going in later this month to test to see if she is cancer free.
As wife of Shae Porter, owner of Porter’s Pub, Jones is looking forward to another event this Saturday, April 8 to help support others who are battling breast cancer — the third annual Brews for Boobs fundraiser at Porter’s Pub.
The family-friendly event from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. will close down the portion of School Street in front of the pub in order to accommodate the growing crowds of people who come to support the cause. There will be food and drink specials, a beer garden, games, raffle prizes and a silent auction.
Live bands will be performing and other entertainment will be provided by a DJ. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department is also bringing out their pink breast cancer awareness vehicle to the event.
Porter’s will be setting up tents outside as well to keep out any possible rain.
Proceeds will be donated to support the 22 members of team “Breast Friends Forever” — four breast cancer survivors and family of those touched by cancer — who will participate in the Avon 39 marathon and half marathon walk in San Francisco this July to end breast cancer.
The funds raised for this walk go to help offset the costs of patients’ transportation for oncology appointments, provide childcare during chemotherapy for low-income patients, connect survivors with health fertility and prevention resources, provide screening mammograms and help high-risk patients access genetic counseling. The goal is to raise $93,000 by July. So far they have raised approximately $73,000, Jones said.
The fundraiser started when a founding team member came to Porter’s Pub on the day that person laid a loved one to rest after a brave fight with breast cancer. And the pub worked to host the event for the new group, which was intended to help make the outcome different for another family.
Coincidentally, Jones, who works for the Manteca Police Department and is an avid runner, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2016, a month before the second Brews for Boobs event. The fundraiser took on new meaning. Whether its her running or her fundraising that inspires people she hopes she can find ways to help others.
“If I can help anyone through any stage of this . ... I’m all about that now,” Jones said. “I had no idea before what it would do to a person physically and mentally.”
Treatment was not easy but talking about her experience has served as a form of therapy through her fight. Once, at a recent crab feed, she noticed a woman had a tattoo of something that represented breast cancer. She approached the woman about it and they ended up talking the whole night about their experiences with certain medications and how they felt through treatment.
“It was somebody who understood. I felt like I had a kinship,” she said.
Anybody who might not be able to attend the event this weekend is also free to submit donations to the cause online at Avon39.com Select the San Francisco walk and search for the team called Breast Friends Forever. Pick any of the individual team members who will be walking and send your donations.
Jones said that Brews for Boobs is a really fun event with lots of laughing and really good people.
“It’s really low key and it’s for a good cause,” she said.