FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Transforming the Flagler Woman’s Club into a pink wonderland, it was a bake-off for the books as the Ladies of Flagler County and friends teamed up to raise money for the Pink Army and show off their sweet skills.

With celebrity foodie judges sampling the goods, it was blind taste testing and scoring with the winner announced by number in a packed house on September 24th as contestants, supporters and guests from the public gathered for the inaugural ‘Power in Pink’ bake-off.

Judges James Taylor, founder of the Auggie’s Fresh or Frightening Food Review community, Karen Dion, CEO of The Flagler Foodies and Flagler Radio and “Wanna-be Chef” television personality Kirk Keller joined Flagler Beach City Commissioner Jane Mealy to determine the best cake, cupcake, pie, cookie, confection and baker’s choice entry, with SunBros. Café co-owners Travis and Leigh Anne Sundell announcing the People’s Choice winner.

“I had great time tasting all of the beautiful and delicious baked goods the community brought together,” said Taylor, who attended from St. Augustine, and even helped auction off the evening’s winning cake to support the fundraising effort, while driving up the bidding war with fun banter.

“It was really awesome to see people coming together for a great cause,” he said.

Raising more than $1,400 to be shared between the Flagler Woman’s Club nonprofit organization and the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation’s Pink Army efforts, on behalf of the Woman’s Club, President Barbara MacReady donated their half back to the breast cancer fund to help others in need.

“It’s what we do,” said MacReady of the Woman’s Club.

“When I told the board what I wanted to do with our half no one batted an eye. They were all in. To be honest I was humbled when first told about it. It was an awesome gesture but so not necessary. Breast cancer is real, it’s out there and everyone knows someone who has been affected in one way or another. As far as I’m concerned, it was not ours to keep. It was meant to be given forward, so that is what we did.”

Modeled after the ‘pink parties’ held to raise funds for the Pink Army in the past, the event was a collaboration between the Ladies of Flagler County, the Boss Ladies of Flagler County, Flagler News Weekly, personal and corporate party planner ‘Parties by Dani’ (Danilja Martin de Howell), and the Flagler Woman’s Club, with a floral donation provided by Art Among the Flowers.

“We wanted to do this because every woman is important and no one should ever be left out,” said Ladies of Flagler County member Donna Davis, a community connector for women across Flagler County.

“There are those on the sidelines that have yet to venture in person, and we want them to feel included and supported. To me it felt like love. What a night.”

In a surprise twist, the winning cake, nabbed at auction by Donna Davis’ husband Darren Davis, was purchased a second time by Dona Mastin, who is undergoing treatment for cancer and had special plans for the decadent delight.

“I bid on the cake because I am currently being treated for Mantle Cell Lymphoma at the Cancer Center at AdventHealth Palm Coast,” said Mastin. “I will be getting round 5/6 of my chemotherapy there tomorrow and will take the cake for the nursing staff and doctors, and hopefully a piece for myself.”

“I have been part of the Ladies of Flagler County almost from the beginning and that has given me a great connection even though I have not been able to participate like I would like to in person.”

All funds raised for the Pink Army and through the Pink On Parade 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk events set for October 9th help provide breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services to underserved patients in Flagler County, through the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation.

Winners:

Best Cake: Stacy Minger

Best Cupcakes: Wendy Sue Stott

Best Pie: Rachelle Paulk

Best Cookie: Angela Winternheimer

Best Confection: Sheri Stambaugh

Best Baker’s Choice: Becca Johnson

People’s Choice: Ana Reyes-Ouzts