Oysters, whiskey and a waterfront view will raise money for a cause close to home this Saturday, as the Lonon Foundation brings its fourth annual Shuck Fest back to the Isle of Palms Exchange Club. The Nov. 7 fundraiser runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and supports children and families navigating a parent or caregiver's cancer diagnosis or cancer-related death.
According to WCBD News 2, the event will be held at the Isle of Palms Exchange Club, located at 201 Palm Blvd. General admission tickets cost $75, while children 12 and under can attend for $25, and both ticket types include all-you-can-eat oysters, catering from Rosemary & Rye, and two complimentary drinks. Westbrook Brewing and Edmund's Oast beer will be on hand, along with wine for purchase, the station reports.
The fundraiser describes itself as its signature annual event benefiting children and families navigating a parent or caregiver's cancer diagnosis or cancer-related death, according to postandcourier.com. This year's Shuck Fest is presented by Charleston Oncology, Jody and Chloe McAuley, and Baird, the outlet notes, and the advertised program includes live music, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and a whiskey pull featuring premium beers, per WCBD News 2. A college football watching party rounds out the afternoon, the station adds.
A Growing Tradition on the Isle of Palms
Shuck Fest has grown steadily since its earlier days as a smaller oyster roast. A HealthLinks SC article once described a second annual Shuckfest oyster roast held at the same Isle of Palms Exchange Club, though the year of that event was not specified in the report. Last year's gathering, billed by organizers as the third annual Shuck Fest, according to Charleston Grit, opened its doors at 1 p.m. with the program starting at 2 p.m. and offered all-you-can-eat oysters and barbecue from Sandlapper Catering, along with two free drinks per ticket and beer and wine available for purchase.
This year's lineup swaps in Rosemary & Rye for catering and adds Westbrook Brewing and Edmund's Oast to the drink selection, reflecting the event's evolution as it enters its fourth year. The core mission, though, has stayed consistent: funding the Lonon Foundation's UPLIFT Program, which offers free, specialized support to children grappling with a caregiver's cancer.
What the Money Supports
The Lonon Foundation describes UPLIFT as a free monthly program for children ages 0 to 18 that runs from August through May, according to thelononfoundation.org. The foundation says UPLIFT's monthly activities focus on play and mindfulness, helping kids build friendships with peers who share similar experiences. Each family enrolled is paired with a Certified Child Life Specialist, who the foundation says helps children understand what's happening, process emotions and build coping skills while guiding parents on how to support them.
The foundation's UPLIFT Program, along with its individualized Certified Child Life Specialist services, now supports more than 75 families each month, according to a report from Together SC. Per WCBD News 2, the Lonon Foundation provides that free support alongside cancer education, wellness activities, and in-person and virtual peer programming for families navigating loss and other challenging times.
Why Organizers Say the Need Is Growing
WCBD News 2 reports that roughly 2.85 million children nationwide are living with a parent who has been diagnosed with cancer, with about 44,000 of those children in South Carolina and more than 7,000 across Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. The station also reports that organizers see a widening need for this kind of support, noting a separate trend highlighted by HealthLinks SC: adults under 50 were the only one of three age groups tracked by the American Cancer Society to see an increase in overall cancer incidence between 1995 and 2020, according to HealthLinks SC.
Lonon Foundation Executive Director Maddy Marshall, speaking to WCBD News 2, said children experience a parent's cancer diagnosis in their own unique way, and they need support that meets them where they are developmentally. Marshall also told the station that Shuck Fest gives the community a really fun way to come together while making this specialized support possible, a sentiment echoed in a separate interview with postandcourier.com. Marshall added that every ticket helps provide children and families with tools, connection and ongoing support during a difficult time.
Ticket and event details for Saturday's fundraiser are available through the event website, according to WCBD News 2.
