Winchester Book Club To Raise Money for Breast Cancer Center

Karen Dever was sitting at work when she received the news. On Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, her surgeon called to tell her something she already knew – her biopsy came back positive for breast cancer.

Dever has a family history of breast cancer and when she found a lump she feared the worst, but receiving that phone call was something Dever could not prepare for.

“It was surreal,” she said. “I found it myself and I was preparing myself for the news. But getting that phone call, it was surreal.”

She didn’t know how to break the news to her family.

“Instead of telling them, I sent a text message,” Dever said. “It’s something my sister still hasn’t forgiven me for, but I just couldn’t say it.”

Eight months later, Dever has finished her chemo treatment, her radiation and while she is currently cancer-free, it’s something the Winchester resident has to deal with everyday.

“I’ve seen four doctors this month alone,” she said. “But I made it through the treatment. Cancer’s not curable, but it’s treatable. It’s something we need to continue to monitor.”

But now she is looking to give back.

For the last two years, Dever, along with 12 other Winchester women have participated in a book club. And it was the club that first approached Dever with plans for a welcome home party. But instead, Dever, along with the rest of the members of the club have decided to expand their party and create a fundraiser to benefit and its breast cancer center.

“The hospital is a great jewel in our community,” said Dever who was diagnosed at Winchester before receiving treatment at Dana Farber. “[Winchester Hospital] does everything for you. They have support groups, they make you comfortable with your surgeons. I was never left alone through this whole process. To have something like this in our community; it’s so important.”

And with October being breast cancer awareness month, Dever and her book club planned an event to try and raise money for the hospital.

“Winchester Hospital is great,” she said. “They bring everything to you. And it’s not just our community that benefits; it’s people from Woburn and Wilmington, a lot of places. There’s a lot of people that can’t drive into Boston and Winchester Hospital is perfect for them.”

The fundraiser, called Bust a Move for Breast Cancer, will take place on Friday, Nov. 4 at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. People can RSVP by sending a check for $40 made out to Bust a Move for Breast Cancer and mail it to Lisa Basile at 40 Mayflower Road, Winchester, MA 01890. 

The fundraiser will have the band, Groove Authority, and will also have a silent/live auction. In addition to many local businesses donating to the fundraiser, there will be a Bruins shirt signed by the 2010 Stanley Cup Boston Bruins, which will be framed before the auction. They also plan to auction off other sports memorabilia, including autographed baseballs from Red Sox players, including Tim Wakefield.

There will be a baseball signed by the 2011 American League All-Star team, a signed picture from Tim Thomas, along with a signed basketball by Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.

In addition to this fundraiser, Sells and Company is hosting a Hot Pink Kick-Off party, Nov. 3 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Anyone can attend this free event as long as they RSVP to info@sellsandco.com. Twenty-five percent of Sells and Company proceeds will be donated to the Winchester Hospital Breast Care Center. 

“We’ve had a horrible year, and we’re trying to make this a fun event,” Dever said. “The amount of people donating their time and effort has been amazing. And to see the support of the community has just been amazing, we’ve been thrilled.”