Life undoubtedly works in mysterious ways, and no one knows that better than Ray Butler and his family. Only two months ago, Butler — a devoted husband and father of three kids, sixth-grade social studies teacher at Millsboro Middle School and football coach — was diagnosed with cancer. With the help of the community and support from a particular local restaurant, hundreds are coming together for the family in the harshest of times.
Coastal Point • Ryan Saxton
Big Peaches Bar & Grill will be hosting the first annual Familes Helping Familes Benefit, a charitable event that, this year, will benefit Ray Butler, a Millsboro Middle School teacher and family man, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, beginning at 1 p.m., Big Peaches Bar and Grill in the Sea Colony Marketplace in Bethany Beach will be hosting the first annual Families Helping Families Benefit, to raise money and awareness for the Butler family with assistance toward medical, transportation and other expenses.
“We’re trying to help out a pillar of the community that got sick early,” said Will DiEfenderfer, proprietor of Big Peaches. DiEfenderfer, who employs Ray Butler’s son, Ryan, as a bartender, wasted no time deciding what to do for the family. “When I heard about the benefit,” he said, “I was willing to donate whatever I had, be it the bar or my time. Ryan and his friends came together, and I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this place. Why not?’“
With a $20 donation taken at the door going directly to the family, the benefit will feature a bake sale, silent auction, 50/50 raffles, a free food buffet and two free drink tickets. Children are also welcome, with games, magic tricks and face painting available, as well. Live music will be provided by area musicians into the evening, and a percentage of the restaurant’s additional sales will be contributed to the Butler Family Fund, too.
The Families Helping Families Foundation, which is sponsoring the benefit, came together when four area women decided to take charge and help those in need. Shantel Willey was one of those women.
“All of us know the Butler family well,” she said, “and we were all close friends growing up. Once we found out about their situation, we wanted to show our support and do what we could to help them.”
This marks the foundation’s first event.
“None of us have ever had someone this close go through something like this,” said. Willey. “It started as something small, but the community has really come together.”
“We want to be there for the Butler family, and make sure Ray’s illness doesn’t affect him and his family more than it has to,” said DiEfenderfer.
For more information about the Oct. 4 event, contact DiEfenderfer at (302) 539-2131. For information or questions about the benefit and foundation, contact the foundation by e-mail at famshelpingfams@gmail.com. Additional contributions and donations can be dropped off at Big Peaches, located at: 101 The Marketplace at Sea Colony, Bethany Beach, DE 19930.