Thursday, October 18, 2012

MARTINI, The Moms, & Kristin Chenoweth 'Toast to Survivors' Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon #BCAM #martiniminis



On Monday, October 15th I got the opportunity to attend a very special event. The 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon which was held in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Alison Eighteen Restaurant in the Chelsea area of Manhattan, New York City. The event celebrated strong and beautiful women and toasted them with MARTINI Sparkling Rose. Television personalities Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein, known collectively as 'The Moms', along with speakers Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, MPH, Debbi Musen, Dee Dee Ricks and celebrity guest actress Kristen Chenoweth all shared their personal stories, and MARTINI donated $10,000 to Kristin Chenoweth's Charity, Maddie's Corner, to be allocated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Right Action for Women.

Here are some event highlights:

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer.

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer.

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer, her daughter Melissa is standing on the right hand side of the shot.

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer, her daughter Melissa is standing on the right hand side of the shot. I don't know how Melissa was able to hear her mom recount her story without breaking down herself! She remained incredibly composed. I for one was trying very hard to hold back tears during the entire luncheon!

Above: Debbi Musen concludes and her daughter Melissa is on hand with a hug!


Above: Speaker Dee Dee Ricks, a Patient Advocate and  Survivor, named among Wall Street's Most Powerful Women!

Above: When Dee Dee Ricks quoted Harold P. Freeman of the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute of which Ricks is chairman, by saying "Poverty should not be an offense punishable by death" There was applause throughout the entire room!

Above: The Moms thank speaker Dee Dee Ricks


Above: The daughter of a breast cancer survivor and a patient herself, Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, MPH, as a Radiation Oncologist she learned the most about the Battle when she went through it herself, it's not so easy when someone who is normally on the other side of things experiences it first hand. Her organization, Best Friends for Life, has a mission to improve the patient experience and the BFFL bags that are distributed to patients (directly now from various hospitals) is packed full of everything a breast cancer patient needs during treatments.


Above: Right before Kristen Chenoweth was about to take the stage!


Above: Kristen Chenoweth takes the stage and greets Melissa Gerstein with a Kiss, to the right  Denise Albert

Kristin was in a bad accident this past summer, she cried to her mother, "Why Me?" Her mother gave her excellent advice. She said, "Why not you? Don't say why me, say why not me and deal with it."

Earlier one of the speakers asked if there were survivors in the room, by number of years, my mom raised her hand when they asked if there were any survivors over 10 years in the room, Kristen remembered that my mom had raised her hand, and she was pointing to her when this shot was taken, which is why this picture is particularly special to me!

Kristen Chenoweth thanks event sponsors MARTINI Wines who sponsored the 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon and provided Sparkling Rose!

Tony and Emmy award winning actress Kristen Chenoweth took time off years ago to care for her mother as her mother battled Breast Cancer she shared her story with warmth, openness and an endearing grace and humor!

MARTINI Wines presented Kristen Chenoweth with a check for $10,000 for her charity, Maddie's Corner!



Kristen Chenoweth receives a check for $10,000 for her charity Maddie's Corner,  as you can see she was genuinely touched and very grateful for the support for her cause!


Above: Left: Melissa Gerstein, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Denise Albert all wearing lovely pink  dresses and bracelets in support of Breast Cancer Awareness during the Questions and Answers Session at the "Toast to Survivors" Luncheon held at Alison Eighteen in New York City.


AboveLeft: Melissa Gerstein, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Denise Albert all wearing lovely pink  dresses and bracelets in support of Breast Cancer Awareness during Questions and Answers Session at the "Toast to Survivors" Luncheon held at Alison Eighteen in New York City.


AboveLeft: Melissa Gerstein, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Denise Albert all wearing lovely pink  dresses and bracelets in support of Breast Cancer Awareness during Questions and Answers Session at the "Toast to Survivors" Luncheon held at Alison Eighteen in New York City.


Left: Denise Albert, Right: Melissa Gerstein collectively known as 'The Moms' wrap up another amazing Mamarazzi event in New York City!


Above: Kristen Chenoweth poses for pictures during MARTINI and The Moms Mamarazzi 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon in New York City


Left: Denise Albert, Dee Dee Ricks, Center: Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, Debbi Musen, Far Right: Melissa Gerstein, Pro Image Used WITH Permission. 'Toast To Survivors' Luncheon, New York City.



Left: Denise Albert, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Melissa Gerstein



Above: 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon Sponsor, MARTINI, provided their Sparkling Rose to attendees



These lovely ladies kept the MARTINI Sparkling Rose flowing !



Right: Denise Albert and her lovely mom!


Left: Melissa Gerstein and her lovely mom, Right: Debbi Musen, Survivor and event speaker at the 'Toast to Survivors' luncheon in New York City!



Above: Left: Ascending Butterfly, Right: Mama Butterfly


It was an amazingly emotional but wonderful event and I'm honored to have been invited. All the speakers were amazing. It's not easy to be that honest and raw about an experience that is so harrowing. I know full well just how vulnerable hospitals make you feel. All of the speakers faced their battles with humor and grace, and if during the battle of their lives they could remain inspired, so can YOU. My mom is my inspiration and example, she is a survivor too, and I loved that she was able to share this day with me! As you know I'm not prone to featuring Celebrities on Ascending Butterfly, my exception is when they are involved in giving back. I don't care where celebs eat or shop. I don't care what they wear. But when they are doing something for the greater good, I am more than happy to share that! Anyone who is willing to stand up and share their story to make things easier for the next person is someone who will always have my admiration and respect! As always, The Moms pulled off another incredible event. I don't know how they do it!


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FTC: Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to share my recap coverage of this event. And before other PR firms and brands get excited, Ascending Butterfly will only post about or recap events we have attended personally. If we did NOT attend we will not post about it here!

4 comments:

  1. What a great event, breast cancer awareness is such a good cause!

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    1. @Nicky - The Big 'C' has plagued my family in many forms, so I will always do all that I can do to help raise awareness and of course share the initiatives of others that are helping to raise awareness as well!

      ♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

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  2. Gorgeous ladies! Happy WW! I played too. Mine are here and here.

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  3. Wow,how wonderful to see so many women from so many walks of life and economic backround banning together to help women in this awful fight with so much grace and strengh!!KUDOS to all!!
    You and your mom are so blessed to have each other

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