Cancer.
This word means something to everyone. Some have lost loved ones to a battle with cancer; others have lived to share their stories of their harrowing journeys through this disease; and others are simply there to help make a difference.
Three years ago, Arcola-area resident Darlene Olsen decided she wanted to make a difference by helping people who were fighting cancer feel better.
As a Mary Kay consultant for many years, she had been volunteering with 'Look Good, Feel Better,' a national organization which hosts free cosmetic and hair alternative workshops for cancer patients. She saw the difference these workshops made in cancer patients' lives and decided she wanted to organize an event to help raise funds for the organization.
With this idea, 'Creative Tables for Cancer' was born.
Creative Tables for Cancer is a women's night out. Each table of eight has two hostesses who cater to the group of women. The hostess duo decides on a unique theme for their table and decorates accordingly. There are no limits on what the imagination can produce and therefore, perhaps the most exciting part of the evening is walking around and viewing all the 'creative tables.'
In past years, the themes have been quite imaginative. There has been a Coca-Cola theme, a Hawaiian theme, a safari theme, a Roughriders theme, and the list goes on.
The hostesses for each table are responsible for the tablecloths, plates, cutlery, and whatever they need to decorate according to the theme. Hostesses can go all out with their theme or keep it basic. It's completely up to the hostesses.
This year's meal is catered again, after Olsen noted much success with doing it this way last year. This means the hostesses are only responsible for the desserts.
Olsen is busy trying to find women willing to host a table this year and is open to having repeat hostesses or those completely new to the event. One new thing she is trying this year is she plans to approach businesses to host tables.
"The business could promote their own business as hostesses," says Olsen.
She is hoping to have 33 tables for the event and therefore she will be looking for quite a few hostess teams. Hostesses can gather their entire table and acquire tickets in bulk for the table from Olsen, or they can decide to be surprised and show up at the event to discover who will be at their table.
Sticking with the agenda from the past year, the event will start at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails. Dinner will start around 6:30 p.m. After everyone has enjoyed their desserts courtesy of their hostesses, the evening's entertainment will begin.
This year's speaker is a woman from Weyburn who is living with cancer. Olsen met her earlier this year and was inspired by her words, and therefore asked her to speak at Creative Tables for Cancer.
Olsen is keeping the rest of the night's entertainment a surprise for now, but hints that the local group is sure to create a fun show for all the women in attendance.
The third annual Creative Tables for Cancer takes place at Arcola Prairie Place on Thursday, Oct. 7. Tickets are $30 and are available from Darlene Olsen by calling 455-2554.
There are various auctions during the evening, giving people many chances to take home a prize. These prizes are made available by the generous business community in the area who never fail to donate to Creative Tables for Cancer.
All proceeds from the event go to 'Look Good, Feel Better.' For more information on the charitable organization, visit www.lgfb.ca.
