The Mad Hatters Tea Party has gained a raucous reputation over the past two decades for its magnificent millinery, but its purposes remain sober ones — to increase breast cancer awareness, support women in treatment, celebrate survivors and honor the memory of those who have died from the disease.
“It’s not about hats, it’s not about tea. It isn’t even about all the fun we have,” said Thelma Sullock, one of the committee members who organizes the annual event. “It is about knowing that for a few hours we are a part of that enormous number of women and their families who have faced breast cancer with courage and hope.”
The first tea party began in Sequim in October 1998 as a small potluck to support Jan Chatfield, who was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. The chemo had taken her hair and she remarked that she’d be the only wearing a hat. Her friends seized upon the notion that everyone should wear a hat, and the more unique the better.
As the invitation list circulated, more and more women asked if they could come, too, and 100 women wearing all matter of millinery ended up gathering to support Chatfield.
Sadly, Chatfield died nine months later. In her memory, the tea that educates and supports women with breast cancer continues into its 18th year.
This year’s tea party will be from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Sunland Golf & Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive, in Sequim. Tickets are $30 and may be reserved by calling Stephanie Swanson at 681-8410.
Speakers, singer and survivors in focus
The popular event now draws about 200 women and this year will feature speakers Dr. Thomas Kummet, a medical oncologist and director of the Olympic Medical Center Cancer Center, and breast cancer survivor Ranay Yarian who will share her “insights, as well as useful, wonderful and bizarre experiences she has encountered through her journey.”
Vocalist Janice Parks, who has appeared in productions of Olympic Theatre Arts, the Port Angeles Light Opera Association and Readers Theatre Plus, will provide entertainment.
One of the more treasured and touching features of the tea is when survivors stand when years of survival are counted down from 25 years plus to 1-5 years.
Linda Klinefelter, who’s been a longtime supporter of the tea said, “To see survivors of 25 or 30 years, we see we’ve come a long way. The upside is to know we have survivors of 20-plus years but the downside is the amount of women standing because we’re finding more and more breast cancer in women under age 35 and it’s not uncommon for women under 25 to be diagnosed.”
According to Sue Kenney, certified tumor registrar at OMCC, more than 100 women living on the Olympic Peninsula are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Although Sullock never has had breast cancer, she summed up why she’s involved: “It is knowing that we have this annual tea in order to help support those who have gone and are now going through the challenging journey of breast cancer.”
