Helping Hands
By: Jim Boyle, TimeOFF 02/17/2005

Singer/songwriter Dawne Allynne joins a lineup of local talent at City Streets Cafe to benefit the Christina S. Walsh Breast Cancer Foundation.

Having raised four children on her own, Dawne Allynne knows what it is like to need a little help now and then. That's why the singer-songwriter is only too happy to donate her free time for such worthy causes as the Christina S. Walsh Breast Cancer Foundation benefit concert Feb. 20 at City Streets Café in East Windsor.

"I struggle as a single mom every day," says the Monmouth County resident. "It's important to have people to rely on for a little support. I don't have a lot of money, so I use my time and talent to bring money in. I wish I could do more."

The 50ish musician joins a lineup of local talent, including Ray Anderson and Lee Scott Howard, Joe Vadala and Almost Green, Bob Burger, American Hawk from Newtown, Pa., and Brian Urbish. Boston's Billy Mac is the only act coming from outside the tri-state area to raise money for the newly formed foundation.

The organization was created to honor Christina Walsh, a special-education teacher in Franklin and Lawrence townships who fought a two-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer before succumbing to the disease in August 2004. Her husband, Bob, helped establish the foundation and has raised about $15,000 to help provide relief to others afflicted by breast cancer. Ms. Allynne hopes the money raised will give families extra quality time together.

"It must have been so difficult for the young mother," she says. "If you're going to chemo constantly and worrying about how much the bills are, a person's mind is not always going to be where they would like it to be. It's such a mixed-up world where people suffer like this and billionaires are buying their third or fourth home or adding another car to their collection. If they donated three of their 10 classic cars, they might save a life."

Ms. Allynne is glad to do what she can for friends and strangers, such as visiting a hospital and singing songs for sick children. She's not out to change the entire world, just her little corner.

"It's the biggest high you can get, helping people out," says Ms. Allynne. "I was in a bar in Long Branch about 15 years ago — it's not there anymore — and they were having a similar show for a mother that had breast cancer. I didn't even know about it, but when I walked in they asked me to do a couple of songs. I was more than happy to get on stage for them. Why not help them out?"

What's even more amazing is that Ms. Allynne finds time to spare between being a single mother and an extremely busy musician. Originally from New York, Ms. Allynne attended the School of Visual Arts and earned her bachelor's in illustration, landing a job as a children's book illustrator. Her love for children led her to hit the show circuit as Dawnie, playing guitar for the younger crowd. Of course, she isn't limited to just children's music. She also does solo shows and is part of a roots/funk/motown band Bootsie Lewis and Da Funk. Her hard rock skewed band Moxy is currently in a holding pattern.

"I'm just very passionate about music," says Ms. Allynne. "I started playing the guitar when I was 10, and I've always loved it. Nothing's better than going out to the park on a spring day with the kids, sitting on a picnic blanket and playing some songs."