In 1991, Brendan Borek lost his battle with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare pediatric bone cancer. Before he passed away, friends organized a surf competition in his honor. Since 1991, "The Brendan" has been held in his memory, and to raise funds to support families in the area whose children are suffering from cancer. The fund, called the "High Tides Memorial Fund," pays for whatever a family needs -- gas and tolls to and from hospitals (usually in Philadelphia), hotels, scholarships, groceries, utilities, mortgages, rent. They make gift baskets around the holidays and even give siblings of children with cancer gift certificates for back to school shopping.
"I didn't want other families to go through the experiences we went through as a family," Lydia Borek told me yesterday as we sat and chatted at the Pale Moon Boutique (2170 Dune Drive, Avalon, 609-967-0100). It's owned by her daughter-in-law and also the offices of the High Tides Memorial Fund. Pale Moon stocks casual designer clothes, and also sells clothes, from t-shirts to onsies, with the Brendan Borek logo, and, in some cases, Brendan's art.
The point? I'm getting to it -- a big chunk of the money that the High Tides Memorial Fund pays out is raised this week through the 17th Annual Brendan Borek Surf Memorial. It's a week worth of events, so here's what's in store:
Monday: Crabcake Day. Get your crabcakes at Sylversterr's (21st and 5th Avenue, Avalon, 609-967-7553) today because profits go to the fund.
Tuesday: Art Show. Check out the Avalon Yacht Club (7th and the Bay, Avalon) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to check out some nifty stuff.
Wednesday: Pizza Day. Head on over to Circle Pizza (2108 Dune Drive 609-967-7566) and grab a slice to raise money for the fund.
Thursday: Pancake Day and Fashion Show. If you haven't been to the Fishin' Pier Grille (32nd Street an the Boardwalk, Avalon, 609-967-8144), a small spot right along the Avalon Boardwalk, now's a great time to go -- and buy a pancake. Why? You guessed it -- money toward the fund. Thursday night is a fashion show with clothes from Pale Moon Boutique and Haven. It's at the Princeton (21st Street and Dune Drive, Avalon, 609-967-3547).
Friday: Skate Jam and Surf Movie Night. If you're more into skate rather than surf boards, head to the Avalon Skate Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. That night, check out a grooving surf movie and the documentary about Brendan and the fund. That's at Community Hall -- both at 30th Street and the beach.
Saturday: This is the big day -- the surf memorial. It starts bright and early at 6:30 a.m. If you don't surf, local bands will be rocking starting at 10 a.m. at 30th street beach. That night is the Homecoming Party at the Windrift from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It's a nice cap to a long week that's doing a great thing for local families. So go already!
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