The St. John Cancer Fund will hold its annual fall block party in Cruz Bay on Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight, and everyone is invited.
Traffic will be diverted around the block near Woody’s and nearby restaurants and bars that are donating proceeds from special items on their menus to this year’s event.
Since 2012, Woody’s has been the site of the annual fundraising block party (except for years affected by hurricanes and COVID.) Todd Woodson, one of the original owners of the restaurant, created the event to raise money for one of his servers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
It’s one of those events that brings together all segments of the community during the month when people wear pink to show support for breast cancer awareness. Pink tee shirts with this year’s theme, “Lacing Up For The Cause,” will be on sale for $30.
Live music begins Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with singer/guitarist RC Sanders, followed by performances by Mother Goat featuring Jared Warren and Ernie Clendenin and RVP featuring Shikima Jones-Sprauve and Eric Provost.
Games and activities for children and adults will be held at the parking lot across from Woody’s, and family-friendly movies and will be projected on the wall at the Pelican Post.
Of course, there’s a raffle. Prizes include jewelry, gift certificates, and stays at Gallows Point Resort, Cinnamon Bay Campground, and Villa Eminence on High. (Where else but St. John would one of the most coveted raffle prizes be a truckload of water for your cistern, donated by B & C Trucking?) Tickets to the raffle are $25, or five for $100.
The event is one of two major fundraisers sponsored by the St. John Cancer Fund, which was established in 2013. Up until then, funds raised by the community in two Relay for Life events went to national organizations, according to Cynthia Smith, a board member of the St. John Cancer Fund.
Smith said event organizers decided to form a local organization to help St. John residents specifically because of the difficulties they faced purchasing health insurance and paying the costs of care off island. “We’ve raised more than a million dollars since our inception,” she added.
Since January 2024, more than 40 residents of St. John have received grants from the St. John Cancer Fund to help them pay for travel, medical expenses, and additional costs related to fighting cancer.
Smith was one of the founders of the St. John Cancer Fund. When she was ten, she lost her mother to breast cancer. “My mother died at the age of 34. That’s why I’m so passionate about this cause,” she said.
Other organizers of the event include Clarence Stephenson, Brenda Sonson, Tim Hanley, Krista Kremer, Adonis Morton, Lacey Pritchard, Ben Cox and Hank Slodden. Major sponsors include Love City Strong, Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground and 340 Real Estate Co.
Raffle tickets will be on sale throughout the week at Pelican Post and Shani’s Beauty Salon; those who cannot attend the event but wish to make a donation can contact Cynthia Smith at 340-513-0514.
