The Kathleen Sutton Fund will hold its 17th annual silent and live auction fundraiser Oct. 5 at the Hood Canal Pavilion in Port Gamble.

The fund began with a Kingston woman, Kathleen Sutton, who battled breast cancer from 1998 to 2004. Friends had driven Sutton between appointments in Seattle, crossing the ferry multiple times a month. In 2003, when working on a fundraising idea for the Susan G. Komen walk, a friend of Sutton’s commented on the cost of travel, and said, that should be where the fundraising money should go. Thus, the Kathleen Sutton fund was born and began primarily serving women being treated for breast cancer in the North Kitsap area, by raising money to help with travel expenses for going to and from doctors’ offices, a cost not covered by insurance.

When the Olympic Medical Cancer Center opened in Sequim later that year, the board for the fund committed to holding an annual fundraiser so as to broaden its services out to Clallam, Jefferson, and Mason counties. In 2008 it received 501(C)(3) nonprofit status and in 2015 it opened its services to women being treated for not only breast cancer but all types of cancer.

At its first fundraiser, the KSF raised just $5,000. In 2018 the fund raised nearly $82,000. The goal for 2019 is $90,000.

From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. patrons can enjoy hor’s d’oeuvres, desserts and drinks while bidding on multiple items, such as a one-week trip to Hawaii, a trip to Africa for a safari or a wheelbarrow of wine.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at kathleensutton.org $35 advanced sale $45 day of.