October means it’s time to refresh with care at Pier House

October means it’s time to refresh with care at Pier House - A group of people posing for a photo - Dance

The inaugural event last year boasted a bevy of beauties to model the fashions. They are: Event Coordinator and Zonta Past President Roberta DePiero, left, Suzanne Moore, Emalyn Mercer, Joe Dantoni of Pier House, Mary-Lynne Price, Deirdre Robbins, Gloria Agee, Karen, Leslie Concepcion, emcee Jennifer Hughes, and Sophie DeVooght.

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It was 1993 when Gloria Agee, who has worked at Lower Keys Medical Center for the past 26 and half years, found an external cyst on one of her breasts. After tests, a bilateral mastectomy, five surgeries in a year, trips back and forth from Miami, chemotherapy, reconstruction and implants, Gloria will be celebrating her 70th birthday on Oct. 20 and will be one of the breast cancer survivor models walking for the second year when the Pier House Goes Pink on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. “I feel great, so why not give back a little,” she said gearing up to show off fashions from local boutique Sargasso.

Pier House Goes Pink supports Zonta’s mission of providing mammograms and other free diagnostic screenings for uninsured and underinsured women in the Lower Keys, a mission Agee supports whole-heartedly. “Early detection is a life saver,” she said. A beach party and live concert by the Prime Movers will take over the grounds at One Duval Street for the event, too.

“This is an amazing collaboration for the Zonta Club of Key West,” said Club President Lisa Benfield. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with this support from the Pier House to once again help us raise funds so important to this local cause.”

The Pier House’s spa is also offering 50 percent off botanical island facials, tropical glow body treatments and express manicures from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 20 also. All money raised from these treatments will benefit Cancer Foundation of the Florida Keys, which helps people who are going through treatments locally with bills, transportation and more. All of the money raised stays in Monroe County. “We sold out last year, so reservations are highly recommended,” said Adele Gerbracht, Pier House Executive Assistant. “I suggest a pink mani.”

Gerbracht’s mother Claudine died of breast cancer at 52 years old, and when the GM of Pier House said he wanted to do something to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she knew just where to look. “It is very important for us to do things that keep money locally,” she said about the five fundraisers planned this year. “It’s our way of giving back to the community.”

There is a suggested donation of $10 at the door, or $5 with the donation of a new or gently used bra, which will be donated to freethegirls.org, an organization that provides bras to women who were saved from human trafficking overseas – also a Zonta service project. There will be light appetizers, happy hour pricing on select drinks and a limited beach bar menu with $5 items.

The 23rd Annual Zonta ABC – Awareness Breast Cancer – 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 starting at 8 a.m. from Salute at 1000 Atlantic Blvd. Supporters can register at themeruns.com. Early registration is $25 and includes a t-shirt for the first 500 entrants. There will also be 50/50 raffles and a silent auction after the race. The once-October event was moved years ago because of a hurricane, the new date fell during the Parrot Head’s annual “Meeting of the Minds” convention and it is now held every year during this event making it a colorful, fun experience.

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Breast cancer survivor Gloria Agee started a breast cancer support group in 1993 after her diagnosis, which is still up and running today. They meet every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at Hospice/VNA’s William Street office. “Anyone is welcome,” she said. “It’s a good spot to express feelings and open up. There is life after cancer, for sure.”

Kristen Livengood is a Marathon High School and University of South Florida grad, mom of two beautiful little girls, and wife to some cute guy she met in a bar. She enjoys red wine, Tito's, Jameson, running (very, very slowly), and spearfishing.