For the third year running, three friends — all of them San Francisco Jews — are throwing a benefit to raise money for breast-cancer research.

“We wanted to have a big birthday party but couldn’t justify doing it just for ourselves,” said Mark Prince, who puts on the party with his friends Doug Gladstone and Dan Grosh. All of them have October birthdays, and for the purpose of their party, have dubbed themselves “the original breast-loving birthday boys.”

“We thought, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so why don’t we do a benefit for breast cancer?”

Prince said that ever since a relative died of it in her early 30s, he’s been more aware of its prevalence than any other disease. “And this last year, I had two friends whose mothers died within weeks of each other,” he said. “All of us have been touched by it.”

In the past two years, they managed to raise about $1,600 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, with last year’s party drawing about 300 people. This year’s invitation list has more than 1,000 people on it, so “We’re really hoping to raise a lot more,” said Prince.

The party, which will feature specials on such drinks as buttery nipples and purple hooters, will begin 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway St., S.F.

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