‘All in for Ale’n’: Metastatic Mafia honors deceased friends, raises money for cancer research with specialty beer

NAPLES, NY – The “Metastatic Mafia” is a group of women battling terminal cancer who love the Buffalo Bills. In August 2023, News10NBC investigative journalist Jennifer Lewke spent the day with them at Bill’s training camp. The Metastatic Mafia was able to briefly meet Josh Allen and their reaction and story went viral.

The experience changed them, as Elaine Vandatta, who lives with terminal cancer, explains: “After the joy we felt, we realized that many younger women are now being diagnosed straight away with metastatic breast cancer. How can we help that community? We still love the Bills and Josh Allen. But how can we help the others, the next generation of women who hear this unimaginable news, that there is no cure? she said.

The ladies teamed up with Engine 14 Brewery in Naples to develop a beer called “All In For ‘Ale’n.” Every dollar raised from its sales goes to metastatic cancer research. Last October, many members of the mafia were present to help with the canning, labeling and packaging of the beer, but this October things are different.

“We had great times with a lot of our original Metastatic Mafia group, but some of the girls are no longer there, so it’s left quite a hole in my heart,” Vandatta said.

Elaine Vandatta and Robin Finley, who enjoyed meeting Josh Allen, planned to continue the fundraiser this year, but Robin died Monday.

Vandatta asked News10NBC investigative reporter Jennifer Lewke to take her place.

‘I promised two of the girls who passed away, Tracey in December and Holly in July, that in their honour, and not in their memory, I would work with the brewery for another year to do it for another year and you started this beautiful story with my friends and you’ am here and help us end this story. I can’t think of anything more beautiful,” Vandatta told Jennifer.

You can pre-order the beer now for $25 per 4-pack by clicking this link.

There is one last major fundraising event on Sunday at the Engine 14 Brewery in Naples from 1-4 p.m.