October 1, 2003
Purses provide Hope for patients
Kay's gives portion of proceeds to Munson's Women's Cancer Fund
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer during their lives.
Every woman needs a purse. Or a make up case, or some luggage.
Pairing these facts and seeing an opportunity to help, the Vera Bradley Foundation began in 1998 to fund breast cancer research. Each year, designer Vera Bradley Inc., offers a line of Hope Pattern quilted bags, donating a portion of the proceeds to the foundation.
Locally, Kay's downtown will be selling the Hope Pattern items and this year owner Kay Jerome is taking her participation to the next step. Between October 1-15, Jerome will donate 20 percent of proceeds from the Hope Pattern items to Munson's Women's Cancer Fund. This fund helps local women cover routine bills not associated with medical care while they undergo treatment for cancer.
In addition, Jerome is holding a party today at the store featuring cookies with pink icing and pink lemonade. During the party and throughout the next two weeks, she is inviting people to make a donation to the Munson Women's Cancer Fund in honor of a woman touched by breast cancer.
For a minimum $5 donation, Jerome will give a card to note the person they are honoring. Jerome will write the names of the honored women on a pink ribbon and post all the ribbons received during the two-week period in her store window. She will draw one of the cards after October 15 and the person who made that donation will receive a Vera Bradley Hope Pattern item.
"I took it one step further this year and decided that I really wanted those dollars to stay here in the community," said Jerome, who has owned Kay's, an upscale women's store on Front Street, for 20 years. "This is the first year I've ever done this and I don't know why it didn't dawn on me before. This year I said, 'Oh, my gosh, we should be doing something with this event.'"
"We have a beautiful product here and I think so highly of what Munson is doing for these women," she added.
Jerome speculates that because she has not had an immediate family member diagnosed with breast cancer, the idea took a few years to percolate. However, she said a close friend, a freshman college roommate, succumbed to the disease about ten years ago.
"She was a lovely gal, a dynamic gal and one who was in my wedding," said Jerome. "She was a dear friend."
All the dollars raised by Jerome's campaign will directly help women in a five-county region who are battling breast cancer. The Women's Cancer Fund, which began in the early 1990s, helps by providing money for rent, groceries, gasoline, utilities and daycare for women whose income has been interrupted by cancer treatment.
"What we've found is that many times women have insurance to pay the health care part of their treatment but if they need to be off work for part of the time, there's no income coming in to help with everyday expenses," said Ruth Bloomer, manager of the Munson Healthcare Foundation. "We've also found that stress can impact the treatment's efficacy."
The Women's Cancer fund helps between 60-80 women a year. The recipients work closely with a Munson medical social worker to determine how to best meet their financial needs.
"We don't give cash, per se, we set up an account at a grocery store or pay a bill directly," Bloomer added.