Christian Spencer
At Bloom Botanical Bistro in Forest Hills, the music carried more than rhythm, it carried hope.
On October 17, the Etcetera Band transformed their monthly performance into a night of healing and remembrance, raising funds for stage 4 breast cancer research and for their friend, Jeanette Mercado, who is currently fighting the disease.
For band members James and Claire Ramsay, the cause hits home.
Claire, a breast cancer survivor, lost her mother, Leslie Connolly, to stage 4 breast cancer in March of last year.
“I wanted to do something that would honor my mom and give back to the women I know,” Claire said. “This isn’t just an event. It’s personal.”
The Ramsays partnered with Reclaim October, a grassroots organization founded by Trish Michelle to empower women and promote breast cancer awareness.
Together, they organized a fundraiser featuring live performances, raffles, and giveaways at the Metropolitan Avenue restaurant, where the Etcetera Band performs monthly.
The event also supported the Magee Women’s Research Institute, which focuses on women’s cancers, including breast and gynecological cancers.
“We’ve been close to the cause for years,” James said. “My wife is a survivor, and we lost her mom just a year ago. We’ve performed for the American Cancer Society and other events before, but this one felt different — this one was family.”
While Claire worked with the band and venue owners to bring the event to life, she also leaned on her friendships forged online through shared experiences of cancer. One of those friends is Mercado, whose own fight has inspired many across Queens.
Mercado, who was first diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2021, endured chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery before learning in 2022 that the cancer had spread to her bones, liver, and lungs.
“I did everything they advised,” she said. “Then I started getting pain in my hip, and it turned out to be stage 4.”
Despite her diagnosis, Mercado has continued working full time and uses her story to spread hope.
“I’ve had so much support — from strangers, family, friends, my colleagues. It’s been amazing,” she said. “It’s all about your mindset. There are hard days, but you have to stay positive and believe that you’ll get through it.”
That mindset echoed throughout the evening at Bloom, where community members filled the cozy bistro, singing along, bidding on raffles, and celebrating the survivors among them.
“Music heals,” Claire said. “We wanted people to leave feeling encouraged and to know they’re not alone.”
As the band played their final set of the night, applause swelled, not just for the music, but for the message.
A good song can make healing feel possible.
