Communal meal.
From left, Arvella Taylor, dinner organizer Elta Watt and Norma Girdwood are all smiles at the doors of the breast cancer dinner. Girdwood was presented with champagne and flowers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis.
Sherry Haaima
The community has done it once again.
Crowds were lined up out the door and onto the sidewalk of the St. John Chrysostom parish hall Oct. 23 for the annual Arnprior and District Breast Cancer Support Group dinner
Organizer Elta Watt said the event was another resounding success, only tempered by the absence of two more group members no longer here to enjoy the event.
Special tribute was paid to Mary Findlay and Penny Lamendeau, who both passed away in the last year.
“We raised our glasses and toasted them,” said Watt.
A highlight of the event was a special presentation to Norma Girdwood, who received her cancer diagnosis 50 years ago this past April.
Girdwood received champagne and flowers to commemorate the special anniversary. It was an emotional presentation, said Watt.
More than 1,000 dinners were served and there was plenty of food and helping hands on offer.
“The volunteers are unstoppable and the main reason we do so well,” said Watt.
Also, the donors, sponsors and those who attend make the event possible, she said.
The dinner is held in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.