'Buddy Bash' at Cedar Isle raises $15,000 for American Cancer Society; local cancer survivor praises event

by David Webb

David Webb is a veteran journalist who has written for the mainstream and alternative media for three decades. He is now a freelancer who lives in the Cedar Creek Lake area. He is the editor of cedarcreeklake.com. E-mail story ideas to davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.

SEVEN POINTS -- Sherry French planned to spend Saturday afternoon on her new boat with her son and his friend cruising Cedar Creek Lake, but the trio changed course when she heard about Cedar Isle hosting its annual "Buddy Bash" event on June 9.

"I'd never heard anything about it before," said French over lunch two days after attending the event. "I'm so glad I read about it and went. I had such a wonderful time."

The rock music festival, which raised $15,000 to donate to the American Cancer Society, especially impressed French because she is a cancer survivor. She has refused to give up on enjoying life, even though after being diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing a double mastectomy and learning the cancer had spread to her spine, she has been told her illness is terminal.

"I'm going to enjoy however much time I have left," said French, who bought her boat about two weeks ago. "I don't want to just lie around on the sofa or in bed being sick and sleeping."

The event at Cedar Isle thrilled her because she loved listening to the music, watching the other programs and meeting friendly people, said French, a former federal employee who retired and moved to Cedar Creek Lake from Dallas when she learned about her terminal diagnosis.

"Everyone was so friendly," said French, who arrived about 11 a.m. at Cedar Isle and stayed until 6 p.m. before she called it a day. "People we didn't know sat down with us and introduced themselves. It was so much fun talking and laughing with everybody and just having a good time."

Lew Talbot, owner of Cedar Isle, said he also was thrilled by how well the day went. About 700 people attended the all-day event, which stretched deep into the night.

"It was a huge success," Talbot said on Monday following the Saturday party. "We're really pleased."

The annual event has now raised a total of about $54,000 to fight cancer since it began four years ago. It is held annually to celebrate the memory of Morris "Buddy" Hopkins, who died of cancer.

Talbot and his wife, Bernie, donate the proceeds of the door cover charges during the day to the American Cancer Society, and additional funds are raised through an auction of donated items from local business people and others.

Eleven bands played during the day. Hopkins' son, Eddy, a guitarist, recruited the 11 bands that played during the day. All of the musicians donated their time for the event.

As for French who visited Cedar Isle for the first time on Saturday, she can't wait for next year's "Buddy Bash" to roll around.

"I'll be back," French said. "It just makes me feel so good to know they are raising money to fight cancer."

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