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Wine and Design recently held a Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser at its painting party studio located at 231 Bickett Boulevard in Raleigh. The event, held on October 16th in honor of Durham resident Cindy Grant, raised close to $200, which will be used to help reduce Grant’s medical expenses.
Grant, who is 45, was diagnosed with metastic breast cancer in May 2011. Her treatment at UNC Hospitals began with two weeks of finding a golf ball-sized tumor in her right breast. During those two weeks, Grant had a battery of tests that included a biopsy of the tumor, harvesting of surrounding lymph nodes, MRIs, and blood work. Cancer cells were found in two of the three lymph nodes and a suspicious nodule was found in a lung field on the same side as the breast mass.
“Cindy has been very brave with all of her chemotherapy treatments,” says Grant’s sister-in-law, Sandy Grant—who organized the fundraiser at Wine and Design. “She and my brother do not have insurance and are unable to qualify for charity funds. Since I can’t help Cindy with her day-to-day care or treatments, I decided to help get her story out to the community and ask for help in getting her astronomical medical bills paid.”
Sandy Grant says that in addition to the Wine and Design fundraiser, she has organized a Turkey Shoot for November 12th, an Avon/Silpada Jewelry Party on November 13th, and an event at Tir Na Nog on November 20th. She says that when she’s lining up fundraising events, she tries to encompass as many different venues and interests as possible to get as many people from the community involved and interested.
“I heard about Wine and Design from one of my clients,” says Sandy Grant. “Everyone had a fantastic experience [at the fundraiser], and we even decided to hold my brother’s birthday there.”
Wine and Design first opened its doors in Raleigh in April 2010 as the dream of longtime friends and business partners Emmy Preiss and Harriet Mills. The wine/painting party concept was a first in the Triangle and has proven so popular, that Preiss and Mills currently have franchises operating in Wake Forest, Wilmington, Wilson, Jamestown, Cary, Charlotte, and Asheville.
The premise for the business is simple and has proven popular since its opening—Wine and Design provides the canvas, cover-up, paints, paintbrushes, and corkscrew and attendees provide a beverage of his or her choosing. Participants browse the studio’s website to find a painting they would like to replicate. Sessions are led by local artists that guide participants through a carefully-orchestrated, step-by-step process. Wine and Design accepts general reservations, but also books private parties. Hosting fundraisers have become increasingly popular at the studio, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to the cause.
“We’re proud of our community outreach and will continue to do what we can in order to support those causes near and dear to us,” says Mills. “Both Emmy and I are drawn to organizations that support children and women, and we were anxious to help when Sandy contacted us to organize a fundraiser for Cindy. We’ve supported the Susan G. Komen fundraiser, Pancreatic Cancer Society, and The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Wine and Design is committed to helping find a cure for cancer and doing everything we can to raise awareness and funds for this important effort and cause.”
Grant says that her sister-in-law completed her last chemotherapy treatment on August 24th with surgery following on September 23rd. Since that time, Cindy Grant has gotten a report of clean margins and no cancer cells were found in any of the 15 lymph nodes that were harvested at the time of surgery. She began radiation treatment at the end of October. Anyone wishing to assist with medical bills can contact Sandy Grant at (919) 829-5511 or can mail a donation, made payable to UNC Hospitals, to 2720-105 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC 27603.
About Wine and Design
Wine and Design (wineanddesignnc.com) is the dream of longtime friends and business partners Emmy Preiss and Harriet Mills. The premise of the business is to provide “memories and a masterpiece” in just two hours. Painting sessions are led by a local artist who provides step-by-step instructions to first-time painters, aspiring artists, or self-proclaimed pro’s that result in an individualized work of art. Wine and Design accepts general reservations, but also books private parties. Bridal showers, baby showers, Bunco, and girls’ night out are just a few of their offerings, as well as a selection of events just for kids. The company also hosts fundraisers, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to the cause. For more information, call (919) 374-0667.
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