Community Corner

Fundraiser at Oakmont Tavern Benefits Local Cancer Patient

Oakmont Tavern will hold the Rowan Varshine Memorial Concert on June 24 from 2 to 7 p.m. to raise money for a local woman fighting cancer.

Jaime Varshine organized the Rowan Varshine Memorial Concert four years ago in order to  honor her brother after his death in 2008 and raise money for worthy causes.

This year she could see no worthier cause then raising money to help her friend, Jennifer Chiusano, battle cancer.

“As soon as I heard she had cancer I wanted to do anything I could do to help her,” said Varshine, who has been friends with Chiusano for longer than she can remember.

The concert will be held at the on Sunday.

Chiusano is battling stage four lung cancer at the age of 27.

Previously, Chiusano lived in Oakmont with her husband Brian and son Luca, until she fell ill and moved in with her parents. She is on work leave from her job at PACE, a private school for kids with disabilities in Forest Hills.

The concert has raised money for programs like DARE and Animal Friends in the past and is orchestrated almost entirely by Varshine herself.

Varshine, a resident of Natrona Heights, predicts this year’s proceedings will be even more successful. The proceeds from the concert will aid in Chiusano’s chemotherapy treatments.

“This one goes to someone we all know and love,” said Varshine who verified that all the proceeds from the concert will go directly toward helping Chiusano.

The guest of honor herself, Chiusano, will be at that event if she is feeling well enough to mingle with her supporters.

“I hope we raise the most money I’ve raised at a memorial concert yet,” said Varshine.

Donations are ”gladly accepted.” Contact Jaime Varshine at jvarshine@me.com.

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About the Event
The concert will be held at the Oakmont Tavern Sunday, June 24, from 2 to 7 p.m. A donation of $5 will be accepted at the door, and all proceeds from Kamikaze shots will go towards Chiusano's fight. Bands playing are Tres Lads, Blake & Dean, Bobby Keller, and the Lava Games. There also will be a raffle, Chinese auction, guitar auction and T-shirt sales. Those attending must be 21 years or older.

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