Budge Brown, successful self-made businessman and farmer, enjoyed 48 years of marriage with his wife Arlene. When she lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005, he was devastated. Devastation turned to anger. Anger lead to action. Budge Brown is mad as hell at breast cancer, and he’s determined to do whatever he can to help find a cure for it. He doesn’t want what happened in his life to happen to anyone else. “My wife died for no damn good reason. It’s time to do something about this,” stresses Brown.
These are strong, passionate words. Budge Brown is very passionate about his Cleavage Creek wines and using them to fight breast cancer.
Brown has turned to using his fine Cleavage Creek wines to wage his attack on breast cancer. He’s put his money, business acumen, and energy where his passion lies. Ever the astute business opportunist, Brown purchased the Cleavage Creek wine label. On October 15th, 2007, he released the first generation of the Budge Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines. The response was overwhelming. National and international press provided immediate coverage via television, magazines, newspapers, and the internet.
The Cleavage Creek look is distinctive and significant. The label of each bottle of Cleavage Creek wine features the image of an actual breast cancer survivor whose story is told on the Cleavage Creek website. “Putting a face on this disease and telling the stories of those who are dealing with it personalizes this and hopefully inspires everyone to take on the fight,” offers Brown.
Budge Brown intends to see that Cleavage Creek makes a difference. 10% percent of the gross dollar amount of this operation is donated to cutting edge research to fight breast cancer. That’s gross, not net—a huge difference when determining the amount of money that will be contributed. To date, Cleavage Creek and Budge Brown have donated over $72,300 to breast cancer causes.
“I am delighted about the contributions and efforts to fight breast cancer that Cleavage Creek has funded. A great deal of research went into making these choices. We’re monitoring these closely.”
Cleavage Creek wines have made significant contributions:$40,000 to establish an Integrative Oncology Research Center for breast cancer. With this grant from Cleavage Creek, the Bastyr University Integrated Oncology Research Clinic opened in February 2009. Bastyr University is located in Kenmore, Washington. This outpatient facility provides state-of-the-science and state-of-the-art naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine treatment and integrated management of cancer patients. The new clinic offers comprehensive support and treatment for each stage of the cancer patient’s experience, from diagnosis, treatment decisions, and restoration of immune function and health after completion of standard treatment.
Bastyr University will collaborate with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle to do a controlled outcomes study. This study will compare the ‘disease free survival’ and quality of life in breast cancer patients who are treated in the new Bastyr Integrated Oncology Research Clinic to women living in Washington State who do not include complementary, alternative or integrated therapies in their treatment regime.
$17,500 Payment for care of 2 breast cancer patients Dr. Lois Johnson, an oncologist in Santa Rosa, Caliornia, specializes in homeopathic and natural medicines to treat women diagnosed with breast cancer. Dr. Johnson works with patients in all stages of treatment as well as with other oncologists so that women can have integrated treatment. Cleavage Creek is sponsoring two woman in Dr. Johnson’s care, purchasing the natural medicines for these patients during her term of treatment since these types of medicines are not usually covered by insurance. The cost for a year’s worth of medicine for each woman is estimated to be $7,000.00 per patient.
$14,800 Sutter Breast Cancer Center, Santa Rosa, CaliforniaThese funds go towards the purchase of Dedicated Breast MRI Technology, an Aurora Breast MRI System. This MRI technology detects tumors that are not typically identified by mammograms, especially those found in denser breasts of younger women or, in some cases, tumors, which develop in high-risk women or those with a strong family history of the disease. Unlike mammograms, which utilize X-rays, Aurora uses MRI technology to detect breast cancer.
Our History The Brown era of Cleavage Creek wines began with 8 wines in the first year. All were introduced on October 15th, 2007. Among the wines released were a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Cabernet-Syrah, a Merlot, a Merlot-Shiraz and a Chardonnay, all grown in Budge’s own vineyards, as well as a Secret Red and a Secret White. Approximately 2,000 cases of wine were produced in the first year.
The 2nd generation of Brown’s Cleavage Creek wines were released on October 4th, 2008. This release included 6 wines: a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Syrah, a Secret White, and a Secret Red. Approximately 1,600 cases were produced. The 3rd and most recent generation of Brown’s Cleavage Creek wines was released October 1st, 2009 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Approximately 1,900 cases of 6 wines have been produced: a Napa Cabernet, a Napa Petite Sirah, a Chardonnay, a Merlot-Shiraz, a Secret White, and a Secret Red.
All Cleavage Creek wines are available for purchase on the website and in retail establishments where noted. Gift sets of Cleavage Creek wines are available in 2, 4, 6, and 8 bottle sets. Wines are priced in the $18 - $50 range.
Buying a wine label and creating top quality wines seems like a tremendous amount of work for one person to take on. Budge Brown doesn’t see it as such. “I didn’t have to do this,” he says. “I have a passion to do it.” Although making a donation to the charity of his choice might make more sense to some people, Brown believes that Cleavage Creek wines will have much more of an impact. “The world is full of people who enjoy good wines,” says Brown. “When they buy Cleavage Creek products, they can select from award winning wines while helping to find a cure for breast cancer. Everybody wins. When people learn about Cleavage Creek and the motivation behind it, well, if it reminds one person to go for a checkup, do a self-examination, or become more informed, we’re accomplishing my goal of saving lives. The cure for breast cancer may not come in my lifetime, but the mere existence of Cleavage Creek could bring it along sooner rather than later. Job done.”
“I am very proud of the quality of our Cleavage Creek wines,” notes Brown. “Wines from our two years of operation have won a multitude of medals in the most prestigious national and international contests. These are seriously good wines doing seriously good work.” Our FutureFuture plans for Cleavage Creek vineyards in Napa are ambitious, but then Budge Brown rarely thinks s mall. A tasting room and wine shop are currently under construction just steps from the growing vines. A special meditation flower garden overlooking a lake has been built to honor the late Arlene Brown. Her favorite flowers are planted there, including over 120,000 daffodils, 10,000 iris, California poppies, a host of wild flowers, thousands of tulips, and roses. “I want people to visit Cleavage Creek and celebrate life and health,” says Brown. “There’s no better way to do that than with a fine wine and the company of those who are a part of the fight.” Brown looks forward to hosting events and celebrating survival. “We have to move forward,” he insists. “The optimal way to do that is by focusing on a cure. It can happen, and it will happen. Cleavage Creek is dedicated to fighting breast cancer. We're in it to win it. We produce award winning wines for a life saving cause.”
Budge Brown speaks with great passion of the Cleavage Creek Wine Club. There is a special category of the club for those who have conquered breast cancer. Brown believes that not only should those with breast cancer survive, but they should thrive as well. Members in this category are called “Sur-Thrivers.” “A diagnosis is no longer a death sentence,” affirms Brown. “Our motto at Cleavage Creek is ‘Live to Love Life’.”
Continuing the FightBrown does ongoing research to select recipients of his philanthropy. As usual, he thinks outside the box. He seeks information on cutting edge research. He’s interested in potential holistic treatments, and wants to know what has worked for those with the disease. He discounts no approach as long as the results can be verified. “Who’s to say where the cure will come from,” suggests Brown. “We don’t rule anything out. We’re open to what works. The time has come for those with breast cancer to have viable options beyond killer drugs and treatments. As it is now, when the treatment can do as much harm as the disease, it’s time to re-evaluate the game plan.” His eyes glisten when he speaks of the horrific side affects that his wife Arlene suffered in her seven-year battle with breast cancer. “Filling the body full of poisons and hoping that the cancer goes away just isn’t good enough.” Information about research and treatments is posted to the Cleavage Creek website. Brown is proud that the site is a resource for those in need of information. He hopes that anyone diagnosed with breast cancer will explore all of their treatment options.
Frequently, friends and business associates who have learned of Budge Brown’s commitment to Cleavage Creek offer to make a contribution to his efforts. However, he adamantly turns down any monetary donations. “I don’t want anyone’s money,” he insists. “I want to sell great wine, give a portion of our gross to the best sources for a cure, raise awareness, and celebrate survival. Everybody wins.”
Budge Brown has grown crops of grapes, apricots, and almonds for well over 40 years. But his current cultivation, spearheading a search for a cure for breast cancer, may very well be his greatest harvest. Follow Cleavage Creek on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/CleavageCreek The Laura Kirkham Agency
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