Local women will model spring and summer clothes at a Lyn Evans fashion show at The Ridgefield Playhouse on May 20 to benefit the cancer support services of Ann’s Place. From left are, in front: Bethan Austin, Lori Jabara and Lori Zezza; and behind, Lynn Stubbe, Catherine McGrath, Any Mosley, Peggy Marconi and Leslie Krichko. —Macklin Reid photo
Fashions from Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs on Main Street will be on display, and local models — including cancer survivors — will be showing them off. But the goal will be to raise funds for Ann’s Place and its mission of providing comfort and support to cancer patients and their families.
“There’s so much kindness in the world, and you find out when you have cancer,” said Leslie Krichko, one of the local women who will be modeling.
The Spring Into Fashion show will be Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
Among more than a dozen local women who’ll be modeling fashions, four are cancer survivors — Krichko and Amy Mosley, Peggy Marconi and Lynn Stubbe.
“Ann’s Place is a phenomenal facility,” said Peggy Marconi. “They help more than just the cancer patient. They help the families and caregivers of the patients.”
Ann’s Place, in Ridgebury just over the Ridgefield-Danbury line at 80 Saw Mill Road, Danbury, describes itself as “a community-based cancer support center.” It bears the name of Ann Olsen, a Boehringer Ingelhiem employee who died of cancer in 1987 at the age of 38.
“We offer free one-on-one counseling, support groups, wellness programs, education, and resources to those with cancer and their loved ones,” said Catherine B. McGrath, director of development at Ann’s Place.
The goal is to ease a difficult time, help people cope.
“We help them develop the skills to strengthen and sustain them through their journey with cancer,” McGrath said.
“All of our services are free of charge — no third-party billing,” she said. “Nobody needs added stress. Ann’s Place is all about reducing stress, and keeping hope alive.”
The organization has been helping people with cancer for 24 years now.
“When I was battling cancer there was nothing like an Ann’s Place to provide support and encouragement,” said Amy Mosley. “So when I moved to the area and found out about Ann’s Place, I wanted to get involved.
“I would have given anything to have something like that when I was going through that.”
Amy Mosley and Partners, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, is among the sponsors of the fashion show.
Ann’s Place offers support for men, women and children with cancer, and their families.
“There are 15 support groups, peer support groups. If you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer, there’s a support group for that. If you’re post-treatment, there’s a support group for that. There’s support groups for different types of cancers.”
Some of what’s offered is practical.
“How to cook good food for the rest of your life,” Peggy Marconi said.
But the value also lies in joining a community of people who are fighting cancer, or have survived it.
“There’s nothing more frightening than the fear of the unknown,” McGrath said. “So it’s great to be able to communicate with people who’ve been in your shoes.”
Ann’s Place offers resources for the families and loved ones of people fighting cancer, as well as the patients themselves.
But the support can be particularly important to the 40% of cancer patients who are facing the disease without family or loved ones nearby to help out and provide the emotional resilience needed for the long battle.
“They claim that 60% of people … they have family and support,” McGrath said. “But there are that 40% that rely on Ann’s Place.”
McGrath said that the most recent count found Ann’s Place had more than 950 clients representing 119 towns in Connecticut and New York states.
“We have over 100 active clients from Ridgefield,” she said.
The fashion event at the Ridgefield Playhouse on May 20 will feature clothes for spring and summer. It starts at 6:30 with Adam Broderick Salon and Spa offering makeup applications in the lobby, where cupcakes from The Cake Box will be available and “an X-rated fusion liquor tasting” will be put on by Campari America. There will also be raffles and auction items.
The fashion show begins at 7:30, hosted by Lyn Evans Shotkus and Playhouse director Allison Stockel.
Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs has shops on Main Street in Ridgefield, and in New Canaan, among its seven locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
In addition to Marconi, Mosley, Stubbe and Krichko, local “celebrity models” are expected to include Kristen Jensen, Bethan Austin, Sarah Bouissou, Lori Jabara, Karen Mulreed, Beth Ann Fetzer, Kathy Matero, Valerie Jensen, Adrianna Pappas, and Lindsay Elise Wilkes.
Seats are $25. Tickets are available through the websites of the Ridgefield Playhouse, ridgefieldplayhouse.org, or Ann’s Place, annsplace.org
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