Plenty of people boast throwing the “party of the year,” but Young Texans Against Cancer can really stake the claim. BubblyQ, the group’s chef-driven party hosted at Fearing’s, returns for the ninth year on Thursday, October 13, led by celebrity chef chair Dean Fearing, YTAC event chair James Carroll, and honorary chair Katherine Harper.

Delicious eats and tantalizing libations are on tap for the fête. Guests sample dishes from some of Dallas’ best kitchens — Fearing’s, Uchi, Nobu, 18th & Vine, Parigi, Pappas Bros., Central Market, Hibiscus, The Joule, Lockhart Smokehouse — and craft cocktails from famed Dallas barman Eddie “Lucky” Campbell. Other highlights include sweet treats from Hospitality Sweet and Frost 321, a bubbles bar, Social Light photo booth, a Benefit Cosmetics beauty touch-up bar, and dance-worthy tunes courtesy of DJ Jennifer Miller.

Tickets go on sale September 15. They are $110 for YTAC members and $135 for non-members.

With its incredible eats and fantastic turnout year over year, BubblyQ is no ordinary party. In fact, it’s one of Dallas’ premier fundraisers. Last year, YTAC and Fearing’s raised more than $200,000 for local cancer initiatives, and they’re looking to surpass that sum via a signature silent auction. This year, the silent auction starts online, and bidders can participate before the event, even if they’re unable to make it to BubblyQ itself.

“The fight against cancer is a personal cause for me,” Fearing says. “I am proud to have served as the chef chair for BubblyQ for the past eight years. I know that the money YTAC raises goes to help get us one step closer to a cure.”

This year’s funds benefit each of YTAC’s beneficiaries:

• 1 Million 4 Anna, which offers kids support through three Dallas-area Anna’s Closets. YTAC supports these closets by helping to add to their supply of gift and toy items for children battling cancer.
• First Descents, a program that provides young adult cancer fighters and survivors free outdoor adventure experiences. Focused on empowering these young fighters, First Descents offers climbing, paddling, surfing, and other activities to help them reclaim their lives.
• Hope Lodge Dallas, a home away from home for cancer patients and caregivers. YTAC is focused on raising funds to help the American Cancer Society and Baylor Healthcare System construct Hope Lodge Dallas for patients who live more than 40 miles outside of the city, but must commute in for outpatient treatment.
• Leukemia Texas, whose patient aid program and support of leukemia research benefits from YTAC’s support, specifically for its $1000 direct patient aid program checks for Texas leukemia patients.
• Clayton Dabney Foundation for Kids, which provides support and assistance to families of terminal pediatric cancer patients through its Medicine of the Heart program.
• Medical City Children’s Hospital Camp iHope, a camp for kids ages 7 to 16 with any cancer diagnosis, and their siblings, where they get to be kids again.
• Bridge Breast Network, an organization that helps underinsured, uninsured, and low-income individuals across 17 North Texas counties who would otherwise go without cancer screenings or treatment.
• Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center, which has enrolled more than 5,300 patients in over 300 FDA-approved clinical trials. YTAC funds support a clinical trial serving triple-negative breast cancer phase one drug testing.
• UT Southwestern research and Dr. Erin Lampson, the chief fellow at UT Southwestern’s division of pediatric hematology and oncology. She and her team are researching medical complications affecting pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors.

The ninth annual BubblyQ is October 13, 7-10 pm, at Fearing’s at the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas hotel. Ticket purchases and silent auction registration can be done online.

BubblyQ wouldn’t be possible without the help of BubblyQ chef chair Catharine Flagg, operations chair Daniella Giglio, and silent auction chair Heidi Benda; sponsors such as Bloomberg and Sewell; and the continued support of various philanthropic families in the YTAC community.

Want to get involved with YTAC? Learn more about the organization via their website, or sign up for regular updates via email.

James Carroll, Katherine Harper, Phuong Tran, Dean Fearing

Photo courtesy of YTAC

James Carroll, Katherine Harper, Phuong Tran, Dean Fearing