ANNUAL FEMALE MUSICIANS FIGHTING BREAST CANCER BENEFIT

  benefitfmfbc@gmail.org 716-994-3585 

22nd ANNUAL FEMALE MUSICIANS FIGHTING BREAST CANCER BENEFIT

(Buffalo, NY) It‘s been 22 years, since Ida Goeckel, a local female bass 

player, and two time breast cancer survivor, founded and organized the first annual 

Female Musicians Fighting Breast Cancer Benefit in 2003. The 22nd Annual Female 

Musicians Fighting Breast Cancer Benefit is once again set to raise awareness and 

funds for Roswell Park’s 11 Day Power Play Resource Center, the go-to support and 

information center on the grounds of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. This 

resource center, which includes information for women affected by breast or gynecological 

cancers, provides a central location to find reliable information about cancer diagnoses, 

treatment, clinical trials, and survivorship. Patients and their support network can then 

learn to make informed and confident choices and become better equipped to take an active 

role in their care. 

The event will occur on Sunday October 19th, 2025 at the recently expanded Sportsmen’s 

Tavern at 326 Amherst St., Buffalo, N.Y. Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. with four 

outstanding musical groups who have generously donated their time and talent to perform.

Music will be from 1:30-5:30.p.m. It will be a gathering of some of 

the best live music you will see/hear anywhere. This year is an ode to bands that make you 

want to dance all day. Have your dancing shoes ready!

The first group will be the returning vivacious and charismatic Randle and the Late Night 

Scandals, featuring 4 extremely talented female musicians, (and Luke on guitar) led by 

Amanda Markovich. Second, they will be followed by a performance by Sequins The 

Band. This fun band will definitely have you on your feet, and features the bubbly vocal 

talents of Melody Catalano. Our third band, relatively new to the scene, but certainly 

comprised of a whole lot of funky talent is Soul Spectrum, featuring 3 talented women, 

including TJ Izzo and Stacey Nicastro on trumpet, and Lauren Vargovich on lead vocals . 

Finally, the event will culminate in a big way with a set from Big City Horns, featuring a 

veteran all-star cast of musicians, including the wonderful Maria Angelova and the 

dynamic Ben Baia on lead vocals.

Prizes donated by local merchants and individuals will be in a basket 

raffle throughout the show, and there will be a 50/50 split as well. Admission 

to witness all this talent under one roof is just $10.00 both pre-sale and at the door. 

There will be a cash bar and yummy tavern fare served at the venue to enhance the 

experience.

The benefit donates 100% of the proceeds to Roswell Park’s 11 Day Power Play Resource 

Center located in the main building on the facility grounds in Buffalo, N.Y.  

This is the original music benefit to raise Breast Cancer Awareness and has spawned 

similar events locally. The mission of this benefit is dedicated to the active self-advocacy, 

informed choice, and empowerment of breast cancer patients/survivors. 

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It 

was estimated that in 2024, approximately 30% of all new female cancer diagnoses will be 

breast cancer. According to a study led by researchers at Washington University School of 

Medicine in St. Louis, diagnoses of breast cancer have increased steadily in women under 

age 50 over the past two decades, with steeper increases in more recent years.

This is why it is so imperative to schedule mammograms. Current New York law already 

requires coverage of a baseline mammogram for covered persons age 35 through 39 and an annual 

mammogram for persons age 40 and older, as well as coverage for mammograms at any age for a 

covered person that has a prior history of breast cancer or a first degree relative with a prior history 

With greater concentration on pinpointing its cause and developing a cure through 

research, perhaps the next generation will no longer needlessly have to be concerned about 

the risk of breast cancer. 

In the meantime, it is important that those who have been diagnosed receive the 

compassionate care and treatment that Roswell has to offer, as

well as arm themselves with the available up-to-date information at Roswell Park’s 

re-dedicated 11 Day Power Play Resource Center. The entire community is invited 

to support this worthy cause. 

For further information contact the FMFBC benefit founder 

and organizer, Ms.Ida Goeckel, at benefitfmfbc@gmail.com  and be sure to visit us on the 

website https://benefitfmfbc.org, as well as at 

www.facebook.com/FemaleMusiciansFightingBreastCancer