Gar-Field High School Alumni Come Together to Fight Breast Cancer

alumni and their families helped raise more than $4,000 during their "Pink Party Fundraising" event, encouraging participants to wear pink to show their support for their friend and 1989 graduate of Gar-Field, Beth Sunderland. The funds contributed are to help offset medical bills as she fights Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

When Beth Sunderland, a Physical Education teacher at l, found out she had cancer, she and her friends weren't going to take it lying down. 

"We weren't going to give up or give in" said Sue Pedro-Davis of Love by Cupcake, and one of Beth's oldest friends. "Beth is a fighter and we were going to be right there, fighting with her." 

Pedro-Davis sprung into action, organizing the "Pink Party" with another Gar-Field alumnus, Trish Bartenes. Together, they contacted Clarence Wright of Creative Concepts and Advancement, who stepped up to help. "I was glad to help. We want to give back to the community and we stand by our Gar-Field friends."

Wright's company CCAA Events, called on K2's restaurant for a venue.  K2's (formerly Kilroy's) in Woodbridge, owner Len Gillespie and Greg Scroggins, who graduated from Gar-Field, generously gave their private VIP room as well as food and drinks for guests. Gar-Field graduate Rodney Garrett with Capital City DJ – provided dance music and his sound system for the evening. Other donations include Signage from Michael Diaz, owner of The Sign Shop in Woodbridge and Gar-Field alumnus.

Money was raised through various means: An entrance fee of $20 per person was collected and raffle tickets for over 25 prizes were sold. Donations were from companies such as Marnie Grice Arbonne Consultant Arbonne Gift Basket, Daniell Mathis, 3 Pink Ribbon Cakes, Tracy Martinez, Mary Kay Consultant Mary Kay Basket, Eric Olivarez of Build of Bear donated a pink ribbon Hope Teddy Bear, Perry Mullins, Double O Entertainment Georgetown Hoya Vouchers, Lisa Julia Photography, Lisa Hill Sutton, Photo Session. Gift cards were from Bob Evans, Giorgio's restaurant, American steakhouse and Cheeseburger in Paradise.      

Jerry's Occoquan Jewelrs offered up fresh water pearls and a chain link bracelet.

Some items were sold at the event and all proceeds were donated to the cause: Breast Cancer Awareness Shirts from Shawn Norris of Sports Plus Inc. and Confections Cupcakes who sold cupcakes, as well as providing boxes of cupcakes that were raffled.

There was a separate raffle for a necklace: "a drop of faith" donated by Jerry's Occoquan Jewelers, valued $1,150 dollars. The owner Brenda Root Monn is a survivor of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. "We think the world of Beth and her family" said Root Monn. "Family, friends and Faith are what matters most. Having been thru cancer gives you a whole new appreciation for life." 

Root Monn and Jerry's Occoquan Jewelers are involved with Breast Cancer Research Foundation as a Survivor Circle Partner. In October of 2010, seven percent of the proceeds of their Exclusive designs A drop of Faith, Helen's whistle and The Gift survivor were donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

-- Submitted by Rebecca Barnes, President of Prince William Living