Scrapbooking marathon to benefit breast cancer awareness

By: RUTH MARVIN WEBSTER - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 7, 2006 4:53 PM PDT ∞

At first, the pairing of scrapbooking and breast cancer awareness may seem a strange one for a fundraiser. But look again and it's a perfect fit.

Breast cancer is an illness that, on average, will kill one woman every 13 minutes in the United States. Scrapbooking is a hobby particularly popular among women and, like old-time quilting bees, can be therapeutic and supportive. So it makes sense to bring women together for the Fifth Annual Survivor Crop for the Cure, a 24-hour scrapbooking marathon organized by Ever After Scrapbooks in Carlsbad, on Oct. 21.

That way, said organizer Sheila Goldsberry of San Marcos, women will be "working on a hobby they love and for a cause that is near and dear to all women."

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this month, a number of events will be held around town but perhaps the most unusual is the Survivor Crop. "It's a kind of an uber event," said Goldsberry.

At 9 a.m. Oct. 21, some 200 participants will gather at the Carlsbad store for breakfast before setting up to compete in an all-night event to create the best breast cancer survivor-themed scrapbook. They will stay up most of the night with a host of activities such as massages, silent auctions, pink ribbon raffle and a pickle-eating contest put on by one of the sponsors of the events, the Rusty Pickle, a company that makes printed papers. The event ends at 9 a.m. the next day.

They'll also listen to survivors speak about their experiences. "We had a gal who teaches for us (a breast cancer survivor), and when she took off her wig to speak to us, there wasn't a dry eye in the room," said Camille Akins, owner of Ever After Scrapbooks.

Goldsberry said they decided on the "survivor" theme after the popular reality television show, but when they decided to have the event benefit breast cancer awareness, the word took on new meaning.

The participant who raises the most money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is named the Ultimate Survivor. With contributions totaling more than $4,000 for each of the last two years, Terry Valdez of San Marcos, a breast cancer survivor herself, has been the Ultimate Survivor two years running. She says she plans to win this year, too. "I write a letter to everyone I know to get donations," said Valdez.

Valdez first signed up two years ago when she walked into the store. She thought it would be great to support breast cancer research, as her mother had died from the disease. "When I signed up the first time, I just wanted to support it because of my mom," she said, "and by the time I did the crop, I was in my third round of chemo."

The scrapbooking event started five years ago, when Akins' husband, John, suggested their store host a 24-hour scrapbook marathon for a good cause. "The first year we did it for MS because we had a customer with it and she had three young children," Akins said. "That year, there were 56 participants with no minimum donation."

The group scrapbooked into the night in a tent in the parking lot, and she said people were constantly driving by, wanting to know what was going on and asking how they could be a part of it. The next year, a group of customers, including Goldsberry and Carlsbad resident Tonya Rupp, approached the Akinses saying they would like the event to benefit breast cancer research and they would be happy to be on the planning committee.

The first year that the Survivor Crop benefited breast cancer awareness and research, the number of donations and participants doubled, according to Akins. The last three years, Survivor Crop has raised more than $100,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, distributed directly into the San Diego community.

This year, the scrapbookers have outgrown the store. Instead, they will be shuttled to the 11,000-square-foot convention space at the Quantum Learning Center in Oceanside.

"It is one of the world's most unique fundraising events," said Akins. "The event was meant to create awareness, but we never imagined it would be this successful."

Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 740-3527 or rwebster@nctimes.com.

Info Box: How to Participate in Survivor Crop

When: 9 a.m. Oct. 21 to 9 a.m. Oct. 22

Where: Quantum Learning Campus in Oceanside

Why: To raise money for the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Beast Cancer Foundation.

Cost: Registration is $125, due within 10 days of making reservation. Installment plans and other payment options available.

Minimum donation (due at check-in): $100

Includes: Two breakfasts, lunch and catered dinner, Survivor T-shirt, scrapbooking freebies, classes and other surprises. Scrapbooks will be judged by Komen San Diego, and the winning team will receive a special gift from Komen.

For more information: Ever After Scrapbooks, (760) 433-9313; www.scrapbooks.info

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