Pastel ribbons and tree lights blew in the soft breeze while iridescent balloons, representing the colors of cancer support, glowed poolside by the lovely Orchid Island courtyard home of Kathleen O’Brien, as more than 145 women gathered to attend the second annual Connecting for Cancer, Girls Night Out fundraising event.
Parked along a street lined with tropical flowers were dozens of golf carts which had brought the ladies, members of Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club and their friends, to shop, socialize and donate for a cause last Monday evening. There was poignancy to their attractive pastel-colored outfits, which signified the various kinds of cancer – teal for ovarian, white for lung, pink for breast, light blue for prostrate or lavender for all cancers.
The concept was introduced here by Gerry Collins and Nancy Cruce.
“We had done a similar event in Vail which raised a million dollars in ten years,” said Cruce. “I felt that Orchid Island was the sort of community which would be perfect to recreate that same thing.”
At last year’s successful inaugural event, the money raised was donated to the Patient Navigator Program for the Excellence in Cancer Care Program of Indian River Medical Center. This year’s event raised close to 50 percent more and will support the Pay-It-Forward Fund, which is under the auspices of that same program.
Pay-It-Forward provides financial assistance and support to patients who need cancer treatment, diagnostic services and preventative care but are unable to financially cover those expenses.
“We brought all the little groups together – the tennis people, the bridge players, the Mahjong people – to get them together for this event,” said Cruce of the grassroots effort.
Cruce estimated that at least 70 percent of the attendees had been affected by cancer in some way. She and the committee are gratified that 100 percent of the money raised would aid people in financial need at IRMC.
“Unlike other organizations we have no middleman, so all of the money we take in tonight and in donations will benefit cancer patients who make too much money to get Medicaid, maybe do not have a lot of insurance, or are too young for Medicare.”
Guests sipped on cosmos and cocktails as they browsed the staggering assortment of ornate gift bags.
“The layout is extremely important when setting these events up,” said Donna Thrailkill who had arranged the décor, crediting Carol Lincoln and Annette Lovell for coordinating the accumulation of the vast array of auction items.
“I am really impressed with the work of the ladies who got all these beautiful items for this,” said Barbara Sotis. “It’s marvelous.”
“Orchid is a very close community,” said Thrailkill. “You know everyone right away, as you drive around people will always wave and everyone tries to do what they can for those who are less fortunate. Those of us who have had cancer have been really touched by this event.”
“It’s such a wonderful cause,” said Kathleen O’Brien. “I am so happy they had such a great turnout to help people who need guidance and help with their medical costs.”