Brasa hosts fundraiser for Breast Cancer Fund

Eradicating breast cancer is clearly a goal everyone would like to reach. However, most fundraising organizations put their money toward treatment. The Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) raises money to focus on identifying the causes of breast cancer and preventing the disease, looking specifically at eliminating environmental causes. One way they raise funds is to hold outdoor challenges, like Climb Against the Odds and Bike Against the Odds. People sign up to climb/bike and raise money for their event. Since 2005, Brasa has hosted a fundraising dinner for Linda Morton who climbed Mount Rainier in 2005 and Mount Shasta in 2006. She’ll be climbing Shasta again this year and Brasa owners Tamara Murphy and Bryan Hill will be supporting her with another dinner.

Photo above:  Sherry Miller and Linda Morton on Shasta summit, July 2006

The lifetime risk of breast cancer has nearly tripled in the past 50 years. Even in men, it has increased 25 percent over the past 25 years. One in seven women in the U.S. now fights breast cancer, and the rate continues to climb. Of all the incidences of breast cancer, more than 90 percent cannot be attributed to genetics. There is a growing body of evidence that exposure to certain toxic chemicals and hormone-mimicking compounds contribute in developing breast cancer. A little closer to home, Washington state has the highest rate of breast cancer in the U.S. The reasons for this are not known at this time—it may have something to do with a lack of vitamin D (lack of sun) or the amount of rain which allows toxins to accumulate at lower levels. Focusing on environmental causes may help save our lives and future generations.

Linda originally climbed for her friend Debbie Graves who fought breast cancer for 15 years and died in 2004. Debbie lived in Seattle and Rainier was "her" mountain. It was very meaningful to Linda to be able to climb the mountain to honor Debbie. Although an outdoor enthusiast living part-time in Sun Valley, she had never done a technical climb before. During the training and climb, she met wonderful people, some of whom were climbing as they battled the disease. She climbs now for friends she’s lost and those trying to beat the disease. "Many climbers are survivors and haven’t climbed before," explains Linda. "BCF raises almost half of their revenue from these events. This year I’m the Northwest team leader and we will take 40 climbers. Right now we have 37 and are looking to recruit three more. The actual climb is July 8-14."

To be a climber, you have to apply and be accepted by BCF then take a mountaineering course and train vigorously before attempting the summit. "Time stands still for that week on the mountain when climbing and bonding with fellow climbers,” says Linda. “We also have a prayer flag ceremony at base camp and on the summit. Anyone can purchase a prayer flag for $100 to honor and support friends or family that have been affected by cancer. When a flag is purchased, the donor is sent a flag. A second flag is made and it travels to the summit for the ceremony. These continue to travel to future events for the Breast Cancer Fund.”

Linda and Tamara have been best friends for ten years; Tamara met Debbie and Doug (Debbie's husband), about nine years ago through Linda and they became loyal patrons of Brasa. "I witnessed the courage and strength of Debbie and she touched my life as well," says Tamara. "When Linda decided she wanted to climb, it was just a natural that we would have a fundraiser at Brasa. Because Debbie wanted to know the why and what behind her cancer, BCF was right up her alley. It focused on things that were really important to her." Brasa donates the entire restaurant, staff, food and wine for this multi-course, family-style dinner. As always, some of the wine will come from Doug (Graves Cellars), who has been making his own wine since 2001. Kay Simon and Clay Mackey of Chinook Wines will also donate wine for the dinner and auction. Kay Simon knew Debbie and Kay's mother is a breast cancer survivor. Janell Rock, a local jazz musician and friend of Linda's, will perform during the evening. Janell has been courageously battling breast cancer since 1995.

Photo above: Chef Tamara Murphy

The silent auction is new this year. Items will include a dinner for 12, barrel tasting and wine tour at McCrea Winery donated by Doug McCrea and Tamara Murphy; a week at Linda’s home in Sun Valley; a dinner for 12 in someone’s home, created by Tamara Murphy of Brasa, Maria Hines of Tilth, Julie Andres of La Medusa and Sue McCown,  pastry diva; a piece of art donated by artist/photographer Rachel Dory; a year’s worth of pies donated by William Keegan, a former chef, phenomenal baker and long-time friend of Brasa and Linda.

The menu’s focus is local and organic. As Tamara explains, "My focus at Brasa the last few years has brought me to a place where I am no longer interested in food that is filled with pesticides and hormones. I do as much as I can to bring awareness to the harmful toxins that are in some of the foods we eat." Meats will include pork from Whistling Train, lamb from Ninety Farms and beef from Eaton Farms. Spot prawns will come from a local fishery and seasonal fruits and vegetables will come from various local farms.

To reserve your spot for this feast that will help so many, please click on www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/14380. For group reservations, call Brasa at 206-728-4220, email brianna@brasa.com or linda@mortonreps.com.

If you can't attend the dinner but would like to donate to Linda's Breast Cancer Fund climb, email her at linda@mortonreps.com, call her at 206-409-6292 or donate on line at her webpage on the Breast Cancer Fund website, www.breastcancerfund.org/climb07/linda.

Connie Adams
March/April 2007

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