Survivors, supporters rally for 20th year at Mad Hatter’s Tea

By Matthew Nash • October 11, 2017 1:30 am
Shirley Sutterlin serves water to Evelyn and Sandy Bequette at the Mad Hatter’s Tea. Sutterlin has attended each tea and Sandy for 19 years saying she appreciates the “closeness, the friendliness” of attendees and that “they all look out for each other.” Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash
Shirley Sutterlin serves water to Evelyn and Sandy Bequette at the Mad Hatter’s Tea. Sutterlin has attended each tea and Sandy for 19 years saying she appreciates the “closeness, the friendliness” of attendees and that “they all look out for each other.” Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash

Bright hats and hearts of gold filled Sequim Community Church’s auditorium on Oct. 6 for the annual Mad Hatter’s Tea.

It was the 20th year for the event that aims to promote community awareness of breast cancer while raising funds to support local organizations working with patients and survivors like Operation Uplift and the Olympic Medical Center Foundation.

Organizers say 203 people attended along with one of the event’s co-founders, Patti Hudson, who spoke about its beginnings as a way to support her friend Jan Chatfield.

Hudson said the event grew from a small potluck for 20 people to more than 100 and that attendees wore hats to support Chatfield while she received cancer treatment. Chatfield was only available to attend one tea before succumbing to cancer, but friends wanted to keep the tradition going.

“It was important to us to honor her,” Hudson said.

Another long-time attendee and breast cancer survivor Shirley Sutterlin was best friends with Chatfield, she said, and that the event has “brought such a love for people with breast cancer.”

“It’s sad to say that there are new women with breast cancer each year, but we can give them love and support too,” she said.

For more information on the tea, visit facebook.com/clallamcountymadhatters.

Friends Judy Kelley and Shannon Archbold both of Sunland smile in their custom hats that Archbold made at the Mad Hatter’s Tea on Oct. 6. The friends have come for three years in a row as Kelley is a breast cancer survivor and said she tries to support Olympic Medical Center as much as possible.

Friends Judy Kelley and Shannon Archbold both of Sunland smile in their custom hats that Archbold made at the Mad Hatter’s Tea on Oct. 6. The friends have come for three years in a row as Kelley is a breast cancer survivor and said she tries to support Olympic Medical Center as much as possible.

A group of friends from the Bell Hill area gather for a photo at the 20th Mad Hatter’s Tea on Oct. 6. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

A group of friends from the Bell Hill area gather for a photo at the 20th Mad Hatter’s Tea on Oct. 6. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Organizers of the Mad Hatter’s Tea hosted 203 people at Sequim Community Church for the event’s 20th year, which focuses on raising breast cancer awareness and supporting local efforts to combat cancer and support those afflicted with it.

Organizers of the Mad Hatter’s Tea hosted 203 people at Sequim Community Church for the event’s 20th year, which focuses on raising breast cancer awareness and supporting local efforts to combat cancer and support those afflicted with it.