Hamptons Party & Paddle For Pink Raises Over $1.6 Million For Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Gwyneth Paltrow. (Photo: Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com)

Pink is the way to party and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) proved that on Saturday, August 1st, during their annual Paddle & Party for Pink benefit.

The fourth annual Hamptons BCRF benefit was held to raise awareness and support the non-profit. The event began with a morning paddle board race at Havens Beach in Sag Harbor (attended by over 200 paddlers) and ended with a soiree that lasted until almost midnight. The party always brings out several celebrity supporters and this year, the list included Lena Dunham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracy Anderson, Molly Sims, Lisa Perry, Laird Hamilton, Nicole Miller, Matt Lauer, Gabby Reece, Jason Sehorn, Gwyneth Paltrow’s rumored beau Brad Falchuk, Jane Krakowski, Bethenny Frankel, Breckin Meyer, and more. A few of the notable names, like Dunham, Hamilton, Frankel, Sehorn, and Anderson, took part in the morning SUP race.

“I feel so lucky to be here supporting the work that BCRF is [doing]. Helping woman to stay healthy, remain healthy, remain powerful,” said Dunham.

This year’s benefit had a lot of special treats for guests, including performances by Chic with Nile Rodgers and fire dancing by the Coppin Colburn Family, World Famous Hawaiian Fire Dancers.

Tracy Anderson addresses the crowd. (Photo: Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com)

As tradition, the event had several paddle boards designed by celebs, such as Oprah Winfrey, Lisa Perry, Nicole Miller and Donna Karan, that were up for bid. There was also a big memory paddle board, which party guests could buy a flower and stick it on the board, in memory of a loved one or friend who they wanted to honor.

Bethenny Frankel. (Photo: Rob Rich/SocietyAllure.com)

Guests enjoyed bites from Anke’s Fit Bakery, Michael George Events, Harlow East and Fika, to name a few. For those who wanted to hang outside for a bit, there were even Kalamazoo pizza ovens on the grass and staff serving pizza.

Just as the sun was setting, guests traveled outside to watch a fire-dancing performance by the Coppin Colburn family, who came all the way from Hawaii.

After that Chic with Nile Rodgers took over the stage for a special concert. He performed party-favorites like “Get Lucky” and “Le Freak.” Rodgers is a cancer survivor himself, and gave some encouraging words during the show.

The party did not end there, afterwards DJ Brendan Fallis came on for a set that had attendees dancing all night long.

While the soiree was tremendously fun, it is still important to remember the real reason everyone came together, BCRF’s vital mission to prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. This year’s benefit raised of over $1.6 million, a record-breaking fundraising effort for the organization.

Lisa Perry signing her paddle board. (Photo: Krysten Massa)

“Paddle boarding is a personal reprieve for me. As a breast cancer survivor, the sport gave me and continues to give me a much-needed outlet,” Maria Baum, co-host and BCRF board member, said. “Sharing it with others while raising funds for life-saving research is my personal way of paying it forward.”

For more information on the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, visit www.bcrfcure.org.