Flip Flop Festivus Raises Funds For Sarcoidosis Research At Hopkins
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—It's food, fun and football, and it's a chance to help others. It happens in downtown Baltimore Friday night.
Ron Matz has more on a big event that coincides with the end of summer.
Tony Robinson, of Ellicott City, is in remission from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease.
"My sarcoid is in my lungs and in my eyes. I went into remission about five years ago when I got pregnant with my son. Right now I feel great. I'm a picture of good health. Hopefully I will remain that way. Remission is not always forever, but hopefully that will be my story," Robinson said.
Sean Hull's mother died of the disease, so he founded the Life and Breath Foundation.
"My mom suffered for 13 years really without the family ever knowing she had sarcoidosis. Ultimately in 1996 she passed away at age 59, and it was a shock to us. I established a foundation in 1998 in her memory. My specific job was to raise money for the research in the hopes we could find a cure," Hull said.
Hundreds will come to the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court hotel Friday night for the Flip Flop Festivus, a major fundraiser.
"It's fall and it's football. It's the perfect time for the Flip Flop Festivus. This year is our fifth annual," Hull said. "It's going to be a fantastic time. We're asking people to don your Tommy Bahama resort casual gear. Come on down to the Inner Harbor and have a great time."
Celebrities will be here. There's a live auction and great food with a taste of Hawaii.
"It's a great opportunity. We definitely like to help and support all the charities, and the Life and Breath Foundation is one that we support strongly," said Chef Josean Rosado, Royal Sonesta chef.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from Friday night's event will go to sarcoidosis research at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
So grab your flip flops. It's goodbye summer and hello to helping others.
"Research is critical because they don't know the cause. They don't know the cure, so it's very important to raise money to find out both of those things," Robinson said.
Tickets for the fifth annual Flip Flop Festivus are still available. For more information, click here.
