Rosey Cravens to speak at MDA’s ‘Cocktails for the Cure’

In 2013 the Canton community was rattled when lifelong resident and former Canton High School star athlete Billy Cravens was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Friends, family, and neighbors immediately rallied around Billy and his wife, Rosey. Despite the outpouring of support, ALS claimed Billy’s life in April.

On Thursday, October 23, Rosey Cravens will remember her husband in a remarkable way. At the fourth annual Cocktails for the Cure, a local event that raises funds for ALS research, Rosey will speak about Billy and their journey.

Cocktails for the Cure is an annual wine, spirit and beer tasting that raises funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS Division and its 50 worldwide ALS research projects. Local vendors, including Plymouth Bay Winery, Mayflower Brewery, Blue Hills Brewery, and Dirty Water Distillery, will pour samples to guests while enjoying live music by DJ Matty Bernier, who expertly blends disk jockeying with live guitar, saxophone, and vocal performances. An exclusive silent auction will feature dozens of packages and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities — including African safaris, original art, golf foursomes, beauty baskets, private vineyard tastings, and more. Guests can try their hand at a “wine toss” and take advantage of the free professional photo booth, taking home pictures to remember the evening.

This year’s program will feature Dr. Michelle Mellion, MD, MDA clinic director at Rhode Island Hospital, who will share a research update and explain why the dollars we are raising now are more important than ever. Guests will also hear a poem written and delivered by Danny Cooke, a local poet who was recently diagnosed with ALS. Finally, Rosey will share her story and what this fight means to her.

Cocktails for the Cure began as “Judy’s Walk for Hope” when the Scituate community rallied around Judy Mullin and her family following her diagnosis in 2004. Judy passed in 2008, but the inspiration she sparked in her husband, Ed, and children, Vicki, Julie, Matthew and Michael, lives on. “Judy’s Walk for Hope” continued until 2011, when the Mullin family joined forces with the MDA’s ALS Division and turned Judy’s Walk for Hope into Evening to Remember. The inaugural event was hosted at the Scituate Country Club, but moved to Blue Hill Country Club last year for a more central location. The Mullin family remains on the front line of their mission and is responsible for helping raise more than $300,000.

The Mullins have always hoped more families affected by ALS would join their fight. Next week, half a dozen families that have been devastated by this disease will stand together under one roof, in solidarity with friends and family, MDA community leaders, local IAFF firefighters, and industry representatives of the ALS healthcare community, including NuMotion, Sunrise Medical, Pride Mobility/Quantum Rehab, Permobil, Enos Home Oxygen Therapy, Inc. and Invacare.

All are welcome to attend next Thursday at Blue Hill Country Club. Tickets are $75 and available at www.cocktailsALS.org or by calling 401-732-1910. All donations are gratefully accepted, including in-kind auction contributions. Briana Littlefield (MDA) welcomes any and all inquiries at 401-732-1910 or blittlefield@mdausa.org.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Oct 16 2014. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.