Piano Wars puts the fun in fundraising for Brave Warrior Project in Cashmere

CASHMERE — On July 25 at 6 p.m., you can treat yourself to a night of music and comedy and fun as Felix and Fingers, a dueling piano troupe based in Chicago (but with members nationwide), comes to Cashmere for Piano Wars, a fundraiser put on by the Brave Warrior Project.

There are a lot of causes, non-profits, projects, events and charities vying for your attention these days. In a time when government funding for necessities is getting more scarce by the day, more and more groups are turning to fundraisers and public support to both get their cause in the public eye and to raise money to provide services that many people don’t even think of or know are lacking.

The Brave Warrior Project, an organization based in the Wenatchee Valley, is dedicated to supporting families navigating the complexities of childhood illness, disabilities, and cancer. Their mission is to remove obstacles to care by creating programs and opportunities for children and families in Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties.

What kind of obstacles? Care for chronic illness and cancer is often found only by traveling to specialists in Spokane or Seattle, and families sometimes have to relocate entirely. When that’s not feasible, families are forced to drive long hours both ways multiple times a month or even every week. There are limited resources in the counties that Brave Warrior serves. Often, waitlists for kids to get the care they need locally are very long — things like speech therapy, physical therapy and even behavioral analysis.

Ashleigh Flint, the Program Manager for the Brave Warrior Project, provided quotes from some parents of children that her organization has been able to help:

• "BWP has allowed me a six hour Respite, the first time I've had that much time to myself since my child was in high school."
• "Since attending the respite program my son has had a sense of belonging. He doesn’t feel different because everyone is treated the same."
• "Because of BWP and their programs, I have been able to take care of myself. I don’t feel alone, and I have met many other moms that I can relate to."

Now they’re putting on Piano Wars: Play it Forward, a night of musical showdown at 201 Riverside Drive in the Riverside Center. You can watch talented pianists battle it out on the keys while supporting a good cause. From classical and jazz to pop, you can expect a diverse range of tunes that, if you’ve been to an event like this before, you know will keep you entertained all night. Bring your friends and family for a night of laughter, music, and friendly competition.

You can buy tickets for this one-night-only, three-hour event online here, but be aware that this will sell out, and soon. Tickets are $50 plus fees, and tables for 6 are also available. For more information on the Brave Warrior Project, visit their website at thebravewarriorproject.com.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media