“The Brendan,” affectionately named by the surfing community for the Brendan Borek Surf Memorial, celebrates its 18th birthday this August 16th, 2008. The original contest was held to give emotional and financial support to Brendan Borek on his 18th birthday as the Avalon teen was losing his valiant battle to Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare pediatric bone cancer. The event served as the inspiration for Brendan’s Fund, an organization founded by Borek’s family and friends to extend that same emotional and financial support to Cape May County area families facing the heartbreak and challenges of pediatric cancer.
The event, which has evolved into one of the largest amateur surf contests in the region, has come full circle and still includes many of the original participants as well as numerous new surfers. We appreciate the support the surfing community has given over the years. Registration for the surf contest is now open and all surfers are invited to participate. Registration can be found on our website, www.brendansfund.org.
Due to the increasing support of the community, “the Brendan” has evolved into a weeklong series of events leading up to the annual surf contest. In addition to surfing, Brendan had a love for art which was a catalyst for The Artists and Friends Art Show at the Avalon Yacht Club a few years ago. The art show has become a popular event in the community and invites all artists to participate.
Brendan’s love for art is displayed every summer by featuring a different piece of his artwork on a tee shirt. The tee shirts are on sale at Pale Moon Boutique located at 2170 Dune Drive and will be on sale at the surf contest in August.
Below is the calendar of events for Brendan Borek Week 2008:
Saturday, August 9th: 6:00-8:00P.M.
Book Signing at Pale Moon Boutique-Jen Miller, author of “A Complete Guide to the Jersey
Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May”
Monday, August 11th: All Day
Crab Cake Day at Sylvester’s Fish Market & Restaurant
Tuesday, August 12th: 6:00-10:00P.M.
Artists & Friends Art Show at the Avalon Yacht Club
– Tickets are $15, $5 for kids 12 and under
Wednesday, August 13th: All Day
Pizza at Circle Pizza
Thursday, August 14th
Pancakes at Fishin’ Pier Grille: Morning
Movie Night at Community Hall: 7:00-9:00P.M. (Tickets are $5, free for kids 6 and under)
– Woodshed Films “One Track Mind”
– Poor Specimen’s “Stranger Than Fiction”
Friday, August 15th
Method Skate Jam for Brendan’s Fund hosted by Avalon Recreation Department
Saturday, August 16th
18th Annual Surf Contest: 6:00A.M.-4:00P.M. (Preregistration required)
12 Noon Circle of Friends Ceremony
18th Annual Homecoming Party at the Windrift: 6:00P.M.-9:00P.M.
– Adult tickets are $30
– Children tickets are $15
For more information, log onto our website at www.brendansfund.org
Brendan’s Fund gives children and their families “high tides” in their moments of greatest lows. Because it is a grassroots organization, proceeds go directly to those in need. Below is our scope of services:
The Scope of Services of Brendan’s Fund
Assist All Families by Providing Services to Reduce Financial Stress
Financial reimbursement of gas, tolls, parking, meals, and lodging for illness related expenses
Monthly food gift certificates
Rent or mortgage payments when necessary
Utility payments
Emotional support network and counseling
Back to School Gift Certificates for school clothing
Holiday Gift Baskets and gift certificates
Specific Family Program
Accommodating Special Need of Individual Families
Out of state transportation and lodging expenses for medical treatment
Special equipment needs
Auto repairs and maintenance
Assist in the renegotiation of mortgage loans
School advocacy
Tutoring expenses
Respite nursing care
Funeral expenses
Wish Granting Program
Responses to Specific Requests
Scholarship Program
Prom expenses
Summer camp
Trips to Disney World
Laptop computers
Bicycles
Numerous other wishes!
The following children have benefitted from our services due to the public’s generosity this year:
-A fifteen year old boy with Ewing’s Sarcoma who is in remission
-An eighteen year old athlete with ALL who is in remission and doing well
-An eighteen year old young woman with Wilms Tumor who has undergone a double lung transplant and continues to struggle with serious side effects of her treatment
-A fourteen year old boy who has Lymphoma and is in remission
-A thirteen year old girl with ALL (Leukemia) who underwent two rounds of treatment and is currently being treated for Avascular Necrosis
-A six year old boy with Anaplasticastrocytoma (brain tumor)
-Two six year olds with ALL who were diagnosed in the same month and are in remission, but their treatment continues
-A nineteen month old boy and an eighteen month old boy with Wilms Tumor, each lost a kidney and are in treatment
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