March 1 Cabin Fever Relief Rockin' Dance Party

to benefit Jeni Fund

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

NEEDHAM - Although lung cancer causes more deaths than any other form of the disease, it receives only one-tenth the amount of research funding allocated to breast cancer. When Jeni Saltzman of Needham developed a cold that would not go away, she received the deadly diagnosis, to which she succumbed at the age of 51.

She had not smoked since college, according to her husband, Robert Saltzman, who with her family members founded the Jeni Fund in February, 2002. Although lung cancer is often stigmatized, he explained that her cancer, adenocarcinoma, which more commonly afflicts women, is actually not associated with smoking.

"I describe it as feeling like you're inside somebody else's nightmare," he added. "Because you don't think this could happen to you, and it does."

A benefit for fund beneficiary Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will be held at Temple Beth Shalom, 670 Highland Ave. in Needham, this Saturday evening at 8 p.m. The night will feature WROR’s Ken Shelton as DJ, MC and auctioneer, as well as dancing, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a dessert bar. Entertainment will be provided by the Hip Pocket Orchestra, a New York-style show dance band, with remarks by Dr. Bruce Johnson, Director of Dana-Farber’s Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology.

Contributed auction items include a 12’ X 25’ billboard from Clear Channel Outdoor, a movie screening with Channel 7’s Sara Edwards, dinner at Pigale restaurant, two house seats to the Producers in Boston, four tickets to Stomp, a 27”, a fresh water pearl and 14-carat gold necklace from Segaloff Jewelers of Needham, onyx cuff links, tie tack and gold and onyx earrings from Harry Beckman Jewelers of Boston, a one-year membership to Gold's Gym of Needham, Natick and Ashland, nine days of beauty at All About Nails of Needham and The Color Studio of Wellesley, and a tour of NBC Studios plus two house seats to Phantom of the Opera in New York City.

Other contributors of goods and services include Ann Martin Videography, Bread & Circus/Whole Foods Market, Cabot’s Ice Cream & Restaurant, Cookies By Design, Creative Gourmet Catering, Farm Grill Restaurant, Highgate House Florist, Hip Pocket Entertainment, Marcy Farm Candy, Marshall Goldin Photography, Martignetti Liquors, Party Favors of Brookline, Rosie’s Bakery & Dessert Shop, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, Vicki Lee Boyajian Restaurant & Catering, White Mountain Creamery and many others.

The Temple is donating the room, according to Administrator Sandy Hain. “Rob is one of our congregants,” she said.

The fund has raised over $50,000 from over 250 individual and commercial donors thus far. Recently, Clear Channel Outdoor donated five downtown Boston billboards. Chris Hebert, in his Tri-for-Jeni team, completed the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon this past July in less than 13 hours, raising over $22,000; The Janus Fund contributed an additional $750. An annual competitive event will begin in 2003 under Hebert’s direction.

Several BU Delta Gamma Sorority members will be volunteering marketing and communications services to the fund; upcoming fundraising events will include a comedy night, Broadway show, athletic/sporting competitions, educational presentations and other efforts.

“Channel 5's Healthcast reporter Rhonda Mann aired a recent segment on the Jeni Fund,” said Trudi Feinstein, Ph.D., the fund’s Director of Fundraising. “They interviewed Dr. Johnson and myself, because they believe that women’s lung cancer receives too little funding. Our intent is to change this situation, and on March 1, we will continue this journey.” Feinstein, who teaches in the psychology departments of Boston University, Mass. College of Pharmacy and the University of Massachusetts–Boston, has been involved in Dana-Farber Cancer initiatives such as The Jimmy Fund and The Women’s Cancer Program.

“Experts say that lack of attention is because of the stigma that it is brought on by a bad habit,” said Saltzman. “Some people believe, that since most lung cancers occur in people who smoke, that they asked for the problem. They blame the victim. This is clearly a misguided notion given the facts. No one should have to suffer from this devastating disease.”

For details about the March 1 Cabin Fever Relief Rockin' Dance Party, please visit http://www.jenifund.org/dance.html. Contributions to The Jeni Fund are tax deductible and can be mailed to P.O. Box 920074, Needham, MA 02492 For more information, please email info@JeniFund.org or call 781-444-4669.