Saketumi, a modern Asian fusion and sushi restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, recently donated $1,000 to the fight against breast cancer in Delaware.
Chris Dunn, a bartender at the restaurant, said the fundraiser was started as a “swear jar” during the ice hockey playoff, that were aired in the restaurant. He explained that the regular customers felt like their language became out of hand at times, so they created the jar on their own.
“As more regulars learned about the jar, it just kept going,” said Dunn. “Some people would even swear just so they could donate to the jar.”
As the funds grew, one customer offered to match the donations. Following the customer’s generosity, Saketumi matched the funds once again, rounding the total to $1,000. Dunn asked friend and co-owner of the the Starboard Restaurant, Steve Montgomery, where to donate the funds, and they agreed on the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition.
Connie Holdridge, program manager of education and survivor-ship of the DBCC, said the funds donated by Saketumi and its patrons will be used as a general donation that supports programs such as one-on-one mentoring, breast cancer education and outreach for recently diagnosed patients and survivors.
The donated funds will be used in support of breast cancer programs in Delaware that help promote the importance of early detection, increase awareness of breast cancer, provide access to mammograms and bilingual health navigators, and give support and resources to all who have been diagnosed.
Dunn said that Saketumi has already created a jar for this year, in hopes of donating the funds to the Get well Gabby foundation. The program was started after a former server at the restaurant’s daughter passed away at the age of 5 from an aggressive form of pediatric cancer
