Brendan Borek Week Grows, Keeps Its Focus

AVALON — The Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund, or Brendan’s Fund, a pediatric cancer charity benefiting residents of Cape May County, hosts its largest event, the 17th Annual Surf Memorial at 30th Street and the beach this weekend.
The event was first held in August 1991 as a Beef-and-Beer, surf competition, and soccer tournament to provide support for Brendan Borek, a 17-year-old Avalon resident, surfer, and artist, suffering from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone.
Attendants wore printed shirts reading “Live, Love, and Surf like you mean it.”
“That was like Brendan’s mantra,” Lydia Borek, Borek’s mother and president of Brendan’s Fund told the Herald.
Brendan died in December, 16 months after his diagnosis.
“I always said Brendan was born with roller skates on,” Lydia Borek said.
“As if he knew his life was going to be short, he wasn’t one to be idle.”
In February of 1992, Lydia Borek sat down with a few close friends and relatives who helped orchestrate the original fundraiser, knowing she wanted to start something to provide emotional and financial support for area children battling cancer and their families.
Brendan’s Fund was born and every third week of August since, Avalon has hosted a week of fundraising activates to benefit area cancer patients and their families.
Lauren Mulholland, of Wildwood Crest was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor Stage 3 in 1999 at the age of 9. Her mother, Terri Mulholland, who has two other children, told the Herald soon after Brendan’s Fund was knocking on their door.
“They paid for travel expenses, sent grocery certificates, and gift baskets. They paid for school clothing,” she said.
Lauren underwent chemotherapy and radiation and had a tumor and one of her kidneys removed. She went in to remission for 15 months before the cancer returned in her lung.
After more chemotherapy and radiation, she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and received a double lung transplant in June 2005.
Lauren will be a senior at Wildwood High School this fall where she is a member of the National Honor Society.
“We have learned not to take anything for granted. We are grateful for each day,” Terri Mulholland said, speaking on a break from a visit to the hospital with her daughter.
Maryann Markman’s family was also assisted by Brendan’s Fund. Her son Matthew and husband were sick at the same time and she had four other children. Her husband passed away a year and half ago.
“They have been so wonderful with us,” Markman said.
“They have been absolutely wonderful.”
Last year Brendan’s Fund donated $100,000 to county families and has helped over 100 families to date.
“People ask me all the time, why not go bigger, but I wouldn’t want to,” Lydia Borek said. “I’d be afraid it would lose its touch.”
She said she hopes to establish a $500,000 endowment over the next few years to secure the foundation’s work will continue after her.
The office of Brendan’s Fund is located at 2170 Dune Drive in Avalon at the Pale Moon boutique where Brendan’s artwork is displayed on the walls and Brendan’s Fund apparel, stickers, posters, and CDs are sold. T-shirts printed with his artwork are as highly sought as surf shop tees and brand T-shirts amongst local kids and visitors alike.
The foundation logo, a silhouette of a boy carrying a surfboard, and all design work for foundation apparel and merchandise were donated images.
Three volumes of Brendan Borek “Family” CDs include tracks by artists such as Jack John-son, Donovan Frankenreiter, Ben Harper, and G. Love, rights secured and collected through donations.
All proceeds from apparel, CDs, and events benefit foundation families.
The week’s events include the following:
* Today (Wednesday) is Circle Pizza “Pizza Day” and Fishin’ Pier Grille “Pancake Day.”
* Thursday is a fashion show and after party hosted by Pale Moon boutique and Haven at the Princeton Bar & Grill at 8 p.m.
* Friday is a Skateboard Jam competition and demo sponsored by the borough and Method Skate Shop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Avalon Skate Park at 30th Street and the beach. From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. is the Surf Memorial Movie Night at Avalon Community Hall.
* Saturday is the All-Day Surf Memorial contest on 30th Street from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Local bands will play on the beach from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a Circle of Friends Memorial Ceremony will be held at noon, including a special remembrance of foundation volunteer, Lt. Travis Manion, a seasonal resident of Avalon who was gunned down while stationed in Iraq this April.
“The day is about the children the foundation helps,” Lydia Borek said, “but we couldn’t do anything we do without our volunteers.”
On Saturday night a Homecoming Party will be held at the Windrift on 80th Street and the beach. Trolley service will be available from 5:30 p.m. to midnight from Avalon Community Hall at 30th Street and the beach.
For more information about Brendan’s Fund donations and support services visit www.Brendansfund.org.