PORT TOWNSEND — Effective cancer treatment is expensive even with the support of insurance, so a Port Townsend business is helping to defray some of the ancillary costs with an annual fundraiser that features live music, raffles, food and beer.
The seventh annual Edensaw Community Cancer Foundation Brewfest will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Port Townsend Brewing Co., 330 10th St., adjacent to the Boat Haven.
A “significant portion” of all brewery sales of craft beer are earmarked for the foundation, which will pass that money on to those who can use a little help with expenses during cancer treatment, according to Anna Nasset, Edensaw spokeswoman.
“The great thing about this event is that all of the money collected goes directly to the individuals in the community who need it,” Nasset said.
“Every cent we collect goes where it’s needed because the overhead is picked up by Edensaw.”
Entertainment will take place throughout the afternoon, headlined by Locust Street Taxi, a high-energy band with roots in Port Townsend.
El Sueno’s taco truck will be on hand.
A live auction of items donated by area merchants will begin at 4 p.m.
The auction will be followed by a raffle drawing for a Monk Flattie wooden boat donated to the fundraiser by the Northwest School for Wooden Boatbuilding.
Raffle tickets are $5 and are available at Edensaw, 211 Seton Road, or at the event itself.
The winner need not be present at the drawing.
Since its inception in 2008, the Edensaw Community Cancer Foundation has raised about $225,000 that has helped East Jefferson County residents pay cancer-related costs for bills, rent, medicine, transportation and food.
The assumption is that the big ticket items such as chemotherapy and radiation are covered by insurance.
The Edensaw grants are for smaller — but necessary — goods and services such as child care and gasoline to get to the hospital, Nasset said.
The head of the foundation is Jim “Kiwi” Ferris, who is the owner of Edensaw. He and his late partner Charlie Moore were recipients of the 2013 Jefferson County Heart of Service Award, partially for their efforts on the foundation.
Nasset said that anyone seeking assistance from the foundation can download an application from www.edensaw.com.
Ferris decides contributions based on the applications, Nasset said.
For more information about the Edensaw Community Cancer Foundation or to apply for assistance, phone 360-344-4646 or email kiwi@edensaw.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
