March 24,  2009



The ninth annual Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation spring dance on Saturday evening, March 21, was billed as the “Party on the Patio,” and what a party it was.

The party was a community event that raised the spirits of the islanders and visitors who danced and dined until midnight and also raised funds to help island cancer patients with the cost of their treatment and travel.

After a cold, windy winter that hasn’t given up quite yet, islanders were ready to get out, see their friends and neighbors, and do some dancing.

About 160 tickets to the dance were sold at $50 each.

Luckily on a cold and windy night, the revelers didn’t have to dance outside on a patio.

Instead, the HICF dance committee brought the “patio” into the Hatteras Village Civic Center.

The civic center was decked out with palmetto fronds on the walls, an array of palms and other greenery everywhere, flowers on the tables, and lighted party lanterns hung from the ceiling and along the walls.

The 360 Degree Band kept the dance floor full all evening, while the buffet tables kept the partygoers full all evening.

The buffet featured steamed shrimp, raw oysters, oysters Rockefeller, London broil, creamy crab dip, pasta salad, pasta with chicken in an Alfredo-style sauce, salsa, salads, marinated asparagus, a fruit tray, and desserts.

During the band’s breaks – and there were not many of them – cancer foundation officers auctioned table arrangements of flowers in tall vases by Sydnee Slaughter of Sunflowers florist. The auction raised about $300 for a half dozen or so arrangements.

Also, dancers could ante up an entry fee to play musical chairs.  About eight people tried their luck.  The winner, Frances McGuire of Rodanthe, got a free ticket to next year’s dance for her agility.

A special guest at this year’s dance was the foundation mascot, Cancer the Crab, in a costume that was designed by Len Skinner of Ocracoke and Sally Newell.  

This year, the foundation had a number of corporate sponsors that helped pay the expenses for the dance.  Dance committee member Renee Burrus estimated that the donations from the sponsors, donations of food and other items, and tickets sales brought in about $11,000 to the foundation, after expenses.

The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation, founded in 2000, helps Hatteras Island cancer patients pay medical expenses not covered by insurance and also helps them pay expenses for travel for treatment.

More information is available on the Web site, http://www.hicf.org/


SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS OF PARTY ON THE PATIO


Corporate Sponsors:

Andy Bowers
Buxton Auto & Marine, Inc.
Dare County Farm Bureau
Dare Building 
Owens Motel & Restaurant, Inc.
Mark Tillett  
Cape Dredging Inc.
Lighthouse View Motel   
Island Time Builders
Tuna Duck
Western Branch Diesel


Donations –Auction Items

Jeff Martindell
Nags Head Hammocks
Ace Hardware Avon
Loralie Harris
Family Jewels
K- Mart
Wal-Mart


And thanks to these contributors and helpers

Island Garden
Island Hopper Shuttle Service/ Taxi
Marlin Club                                                                                                                       
Island Perks
Pamlico Inn Restaurant                                                                                                         
Sandbar Restaurant
Diamond Shoals Restaurant
Risky Business Seafood
Dinky’s
Burrus Red & White
Conner’s Supermarket
Angelo’s Pizza
Food Lion
Linda Hooper of Sysco
Sunflowers Florist
Mutual Distributing Co.
Coastal Beverage
Graphic Solutions
Mark Barris
Heidi Blackwood
Robin Jennette
Cassy Gray
Joanne Throne 


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