When Denton singer Beth Heffernan laced up a pair of pink boxing gloves, she was channeling some serious anger against breast cancer.
Heffernan said she wanted to fight for her maternal grandmother, Mary Ferko.
Ferko is the reason Heffernan planned “Rockers for Knockers 2,” a show that features local and Dallas area burlesque dancers on stage with its accompaniment for the evening: Lovesick Mary, the Denton R&B-rock group Heffernan fronts and plays keyboards for. Heffernan’s husband, Shane, is the lead guitarist. Wes Cummings is the band’s drummer, Vanessa Stringer plays guitar and Frank Padia plays bass. The evening is a benefit for breast cancer research through the American Cancer Society.
“My grandmother passed away in January after a two-year battle,” Heffernan said.
Ferko was 82 when she received her second breast cancer diagnosis in 2012, Heffernan said. By the time the cancer was diagnosed, it was in Stage 4. It was aggressive, and it had metastasized to her brain and her spine.
“My other grandmother had a complete mastectomy when I was a kid,” Heffernan said. A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the breast, and a common treatment for breast cancer.
“I just remember that she had a special bra that she had to wear to even out her breasts, so not a lot of people even knew that she had the mastectomy. So from a young age, I’ve always known about breast cancer, known how horrible it is and everything.”
Heffernan’s paternal grandmother died when Heffernan was 12, from complications of diabetes. She was close to Ferko until her death in January.
Ferko was diagnosed for the first time in 2002.
“She was in her late 70s, and at that time I believe she was only Stage 1, and they were able to do a lumpectomy and take three or four of her lymph nodes. And she was on a med that kept it at bay,” Heffernan said. “And this is what a fighter she was: When they first diagnosed her, and they got it out and they got the lump out, and she was cancer-free. She was taking medication everything and they said, ‘You’ll probably be cancer-free for five years.’ She made it 10.”
Heffernan admired a lot about her grandmother. Ferko was “full of opinions” and never shy to share them, the singer said. She was fiercely independent, and younger than her years, Heffernan said.
The singer said she staged the first “Rockers for Knockers” event last year, while her grandmother was struggling through radiation treatment.
“They didn’t want to do a brain surgery or chemo, because of her age,” Heffernan said.
Ferko spent her final days in her daughter’s home, and her granddaughter flew to California to see her every six weeks. Heffernan said the hardest part of it all was watching an “independent, feisty and sassy” woman — one who had kept her part-time job in her church office during her cancer treatments — lose her strength and independence. While the tumors shrank from the radiation, they grew again, eventually causing several minor strokes.
Heffernan said the first fundraiser drew a smaller crowd than she hoped for. But she was determined to honor her grandmother with a 2014 show. She reached out to her friends in the burlesque scene — Heffernan used to perform with Denton’s Whiskey Tongue Burlesque as “Beth A Lishus” — and the local music scene.
“I have seriously, honestly been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and the responses and the hard work I have gotten,” she said. “People are more than willing to help out.”
“Rockers for Knockers 2” features burlesque dancers from Whiskey Tongue Burlesque — Lemme Addams and Ginga Rockafella. Dancers from Broads and Panties burlesque troupe will perform, too: Bettie Martini-Vermuth, Scarlet Peach, Gitsie St. James, Kitty Martini and Bang Bang Lulu. Cat de Lynn, one half of the duo Cat n’ Candy, will dance. Burlesque duo Carmel Sutra and Jack O’Hartz will perform
Belly-dancers Jennifer Ludlum and Pixie O’Neal will perform, and Dallas drag queen Nikki Trash will take the stage.
Vendors will have goods and services for a silent auction. Information from the American Cancer Society will be available, and Solis Mammography of Denton will have information at the event.
“Rockers for Knockers 2” is an adult event. Burlesque is elegant striptease, and dancers end their routines nearly nude from the waist up. Decorative pasties keep the dancers from total toplessness.
Lovesick Mary will perform a set list chosen by the dancers — covering music by the Doors, Hole, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, Lady Gaga and others.
The show starts at 9 p.m. Friday at Hailey’s Club, 122 W. Mulberry St. Cover is $10. Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
