Creating Ice Cream Smiles To Raise Money For Cancer Awareness

Several scoops of ice cream, a dollop of creativity and a drizzling of homemade syrup are the necessary ingredients to raise money for cancer research at the upcoming Sip ‘n Soda-sponsored “2011 American Cancer Society Relay for Life” fundraiser on

Sunday.

Mark Parash, who co-owns the Southampton Village eatery that has been churning out soda-fountain classics for more than half a century, and his uncle, Jim Parash, are throwing open the doors of their family business after hours on Sunday, March 13, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to raise money for the relay team. The two men will show an audience capped at 40 participants how they prepare such favorites as lime Rickey, a drink made of freshly-squeezed lime, cherry syrup, a homemade lemon-lime syrup and seltzer; as well as banana splits, egg creams, milkshakes, malts and ice cream sodas.

Additionally, participants will get to learn some of the history of each treat, whose Sip ‘n Soda origins trace back to Mr. Parash’s grandfather, William, and father, Paul, the recipes for which have never been written down. Participants will then taste all the sweets and get to dig in to the assorted flavors of ice cream and sprinkle bins themselves when they make their own sundaes.

Dubbed “Super Sundae,” the event includes, of course, a cherry on top: Mr. Parash said he plans to unveil a brand-new ice cream flavor that evening that he is naming “Relay.” The flavor’s composition will remain under wraps. During a phone interview from a family vacation in Puerto Rico last week, Mr. Parash said he is still brainstorming which ingredients would best blend together and how he can tie the flavor into the cancer awareness effort.

“There’s benefits of ice cream with cancer patients as far as chemotherapy effects like nauseousness and sore mouth,” he said. “A lot of people come in that have family members on chemotherapy. They come in and ask for milkshakes or ice cream sodas and say this is the only thing they’ll eat. This is how they put on weight.”

France Posener, a North Sea resident who describes herself as a “serious foodie,” approached Mr. Parash about the possibility of a fundraiser at Sip ‘n Soda, which is where her daughter, Skylar Borucke, 17, works.

“When you talk about the fabric of our community, he’s it,” said Ms. Posener, who is the team captain of the “Walk with Me” relay team. “He makes ice cream every day. Everybody else buys their ice cream from big warehouses. He makes it.” She added that it seemed a natural fit to hold a fundraiser at Sip ‘n Soda, a family business now in its third generation.

Both Ms. Posener and Mr. Parash have had close relatives touched by cancer. Ms. Posener’s father, Albert, died of cancer when she was 13, she said. And Mr. Parash said his mother, Mary, and father-in-law, Mike Brumm, both died of cancer at the age of 54.

“So we thought it would be a fun idea to go through the nostalgia side of a soda fountain and combine the sweets and treats with a benefit,” Mr. Parash explained. “Everybody can do wine tastings, but how many people get the chance of doing the quote-unquote art of ice cream sodas and lime Rickey drinks?”

The lime Rickey is legend at Sip ‘n Soda, Mr. Parash reported. The season for the drink traditionally begins when cartoonist Irwin Hasen, co-creator of the “Dondi” comic strip, creates a new drawing advertising the beverage. His work adorns the luncheonette’s interior, often highlighting locals alongside the drink.

When Mr. Hasen creates a new poster, that marks the advent of “lime Rickey season,” usually sometime in late April or May. The “Super Sundae” event will offer an unusual opportunity to enjoy the childhood favorite beverage before the official season begins, Mr. Parash said.

At the fundraiser, Mr. Parash and his staff will also reveal how to make another drink, the “Skydive,” a portmanteau, or blending, of its creators’ first names: the “Sky” part is named after Ms. (Skylar) Borucke and the “Dive” part is named for Diven Farron. The two teenagers, both juniors at Southampton High School, and waitresses at Sip ‘n Soda, came up with the drink last year. It is made of fresh-squeezed lemon blended with raspberry and lemon sherbet. Although the drink is not on the official Sip ‘n Soda menu, it will be made on Sunday and participants will get to taste it.

Proceeds from “Super Sundae” will benefit this year’s “2011 American Cancer Society Relay for Life” South Fork event, which is scheduled for Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, at the Southampton Youth Services recreation center in Southampton. According to the South Fork Relay website, Ms. Posener has raised the most of any participating individual—$4,320 as of last week—and her team of about 15 women is listed as the top team, raising more than $9,630 so far.

At the end of the day, raising money, and making people happy, will be the main objectives of “Super Sundae,” Mr. Parash said.

“In the end it’s so fun to see children smile when they eat ice cream and it’s so fun to see adults smile when they drink a milkshake,” Mr. Parash said. “For a moment I think they get to feel like, ‘Gosh, I’m a kid again,’ and everybody wants to be a kid.”

“Super Sundae will be held at Sip ‘n Soda, located at 40 Hampton Road in Southampton Village, on Sunday, March 13, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $30 per person and reservations are limited to 40 people. To reserve a spot, contact Ms. Posener at 903-1990 or fposener@optonline.net.