By Leslie Kelly
lkelly@soundpublishing.com
KINGSTON — For six years, Kathleen Sutton fought breast cancer. And for most of that time, ViviAnn Parnell was at her side, making sure that Sutton had a way to get to her treatments at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
Parnell, a Kingston resident, smiles as she recalls memories of her friend. Sutton died in April 2004 of breast cancer. And the other women gathered around Parnell’s dining room table, too, smile at the memory of Sutton, even though some of them never met her.
But the memory of Sutton is what brings them together and has kept Sutton’s work living on past her death. Together, these women make up the Kathleen Sutton Inspirational Fund.
A nonprofit, the fund helps provide travel expenses for women who are suffering from breast, ovarian and cervical cancer so they can get to, and from, their treatments and doctors appointments.
“It seems impossible, but we have women right here in our communities who give up on getting treatment, not because they can’t afford the treatment, but because they don’t have the money to fill their car with gas and take the ferry to their chemo appointment,” Parnell said. “For some women, it can be as much as $100 a trip, and they have to make 20, 30 or 40 trips over the course of their treatment.”
The organization helps women in Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam and Mason counties. Since its beginning 10 years ago, it has given more than $250,000 to women in need of help with transportation. They’ve helped more than 600 women and last year alone, they gave $35,411 in aid.The women work through local oncologists and through area hospitals, often times telling the patient navigators about what the organization does.
“We do get referrals, too,” Parnell said. “We will help any woman who comes to us and we don’t ask a lot of financial questions. We just want to be able to provide them with rides to their treatment if needed.”
When the economy took a downturn around 2007, women came for help who were professionals, owned their own homes and cars. But they had been laid off, had little or no insurance and no cash to get them to their treatments.
The organization makes most of the money it gives away through its annual auction which this year will be Oct. 6. It’s held at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion in Port Gamble. A $15 ticket includes a beer or glass of wine, and hors d’oeuvres. The event is from 4-7 p.m.
“Last year, we made $45,000,” said Parnell, noting the first year they were happy to have made $5,000.
There is a silent auction including items such as gift certificates for restaurants and spas, jewelry, artwork and wine.
The live auction includes overnight stays in Victoria B.C. and at the Great Wolf Lodge, two tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies, a week in a condo in Mexico, wine tours, and golf packages.
The fund has only a 2 percent overhead and 98 percent of what is raised goes directly to services.
