Second Annual ‘Dave Day’ Remembers Longtime Avalon Summer Resident

AVALON – Over 300 attended the Second Annual Dave Day on the Bay for Cancer Research July 30. The event raised over $10,000 that will be donated to the Cancer Research Institute.  
The event was held in memory of David Whitnack of Philadelphia and Avalon. He died May 14, 2016. He was the owner of Keystone Supply in Philadelphia.
According to his obituary, Whitnack “enjoyed spending time working on his home in Avalon NJ and spending his leisure time fishing, boating and entertaining friends.”
Many of those friends made the day a success including John P. Szczepaniak who donated his home for the party. DJ Francis J. Thorpe volunteered time. Donna Davis Delrieu-Catone, Michelle Stewart, Leah Spencer, Bobby Mansure, Tess Rasmussen Skocik and countless volunteers joined the event.
The event included close to 30 raffles. They included a beach getaway weekend, gift certificates to Fred’s, Oceanside Seafood, Via Mare, The Reeds and Cattle and Clover.
Additionally there was also a Heineken beach bike, and an autographed Eagles football.
The amount donated, with the LabAnswer’s contribution, was $10,919, according to a release.
Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is the world’s only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to harnessing the immune system’s power to conquer all cancers; 87 percent of donations go to research.
The organizers joined LabAnswer’s campaign in their support of CRI this year. One of the volunteer’s employers, LabAnswer, pledged to provide a 2:1 match of funds donated in the achievement of its $50,000 goal.
LabAnswer chose this organization to support in 2016 because of its alignment with its company mission to improve scientific informatics. Its consultants support laboratory research each day focused on the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer.
Dave Day Background
Dave Whitnack had been coming to Avalon for 20 years. He had a beach house on 29th block Ocean Avenue. About 18 months ago he learned he was in the final stage of stomach cancer. He was described as a kind, generous man who loved his friends and family.
In memory of Whitnack’s life, the group hosted the second annual “Dave Day on the Bay.” In 2015, they raised over $6,000 to find a cure for cancer.