Comedian Karen Mills will discuss surviving ovarian cancer as keynote speaker of Oct. 21 event
VISALIA – Tickets are on sale for Kaweah Delta’s 7th annual Pink Tea Party, whose Moroccan-themed tea party will transform the Visalia Convention Center on Sunday, Oct. 21. The event will celebrate those in our community whose lives have been touched by cancer.
The tea’s keynote speaker is Karen Mills, a national speaker and comedian, who has turned her pain from ovarian cancer into punchlines and can now be heard daily on Sirius/XM Comedy Channels. Since surviving cancer, Karen has been hailed for her ability to bring humor and inspiration to difficult topics and is now a sought-after keynote speaker. Her positive message, strong stage presence and entertaining style has landed her on numerous stages for a variety of audiences, including survivor events, women’s health conferences, commencement addresses and many more.
“I’ve always encouraged others, when faced with adversity, to stay positive and look for the humor. In spring of 2013, the time came for me to put my money where my mouth was when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I stress ovarian because the breasts get all the glory…,” Mills said. “Though regardless of what color the cancer ribbon is, the journey is the same.”
While traditionally, Kaweah Delta’s event has celebrated breast cancer survivors, this year it has a more encompassing focus – celebrating those whose lives have been touched by all types of cancer. “This event is also about raising awareness about major cancer risk factors that we can control. “There are so many things we can do to live healthier and we hope to inspire that change,” said Dru Quesnoy, Director of Marketing & Public Relations.
The event will also include entertainment, opportunity drawings, patient stories, a photo booth and a walk of life honoring those who have fought or have lost their battle with cancer. Lanterns for the walk can be purchased for $5 and proceeds from the sale will go to the Lost Girls Fund created by the Lost Girls Motorcycle Club. If a low-income woman is in need of a mammogram and cannot pay for it, the fund pays for the mammogram at the Kaweah Delta Breast Center.
The event will begin at noon on Oct. 21 at the Visalia Convention Center, 303 E. Acequia Ave. Individual tickets are $30, while reserved tables of eight are $240 and can be purchased online at www.kaweahdelta.org/pinktea or by calling 624-2098. Tickets must be purchased in advance of the event.
Since 2011, Kaweah Delta’s Pink Tea Party has sold out every year and grown from 100 to nearly 800 attendees. This year, more than 800 people are expected to attend the event.
