Several years ago after meeting Donny ‘Elvis’ Romines, the popular local Elvis impersonator, Levendos asked him to perform at her first fundraiser, which then turned into a popular reoccurring event that has taken place all over the Capital Region, from Lake George to Saratoga Springs to Albany.
“[Donny] has been with me raising money for the ACS and making strides against breast cancer for four years now,” Levendos said. “He really puts on a great show—he gets the audience involved and is a good entertainer.”
Romines said he enjoys performing at Levendos’ fundraisers because of the cause, adding that it not only is a personal cause for Levendos but for himself as well.
“I have three sisters and three brothers, and my middle sister was diagnosed with cancer last year, so it hits home,” Romines said. “Thank God they got it all, and she just had another CAT scan that came back all clear, but it gives me another reason to do this and to help the cause so hopefully they can one day cure that terrible disease.”
Levendos said this particular fundraiser will be very special, as it will be held just two weeks after the one-year anniversary of her mother’s passing due to breast cancer.
The upcoming event will feature a performance by Romines, along with a cash bar, food and a 50/50 raffle with prizes ranging from gift certificates to local restaurants and gift baskets with clothing items that raise cancer awareness, such as pink bathrobes and hats with the breast cancer ribbon.
The fundraiser will also have a table set up with representatives from the ACS, who will have pamphlets and information available to anyone with questions.
“People can speak to [ACS representatives] about their programs and how to get help, and they put them in the right direction to get that help,” Levendos said.
The ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, according to their website. The organization funds research to understand the causes of cancer, offers prevention and educational efforts to help prevent and detect cancer early, and offers free information, programs, services, and community referrals to patients, survivors, and caregivers through every step of a cancer experience.
“We have to keep the fight on until we win the fight,” Romines said. “That’s what I do and why I come—you’ve got to try, because if you don’t try you’re not going to win at all.”
The Elvis Fundraiser will take place July 19 from 7–10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn located in downtown Saratoga. Tickets are $15 per person, with all proceeds benefitting the Capital Region branch of the ACS. For more information, contact Helen Levendos at (518) 745-7821.
“It’s a wonderful evening,” Levendos said. “You leave there with a great feeling that you not only helped a cause, but saw a great show as well.”
