The Cancer League held its annual soiree at the Claremont Country Club on Sept. 1, an event postponed from the spring due to COVID. Led by co-chairs Hilary Cooper and Erin Brayer, the Soirée D’été attracted approximately 200 guests to “shop and sip for survivorship.” The League invites local vendors to sell their goods with 25 percent of their sales going back to the Cancer League, Inc. This year it raised over $75,000 for cancer research, thanks to generous sponsors.
Vendors included handbag companies, jewelry, clothing, artwork, gifts, household wares, accessories, and more. The event started outside on the front lawn with wine, cocktails, and nibbles in a beautiful, tranquil tented setting, then moved inside for shopping. The event lasted from 6 – 8 p.m. with a special VIP donor hour from 5 – 6 p.m.
“We had many generous sponsors this year and even with limiting capacity, the event generated an impressive sum for cancer research,” said Brayer. “We planned for our traditional shopping and buffet dinner with everything inside, maskless and worry-free, but due to Delta, we had to pivot and move eating and bars outside, as well as follow the mask mandate. Thankfully Claremont was willing to accommodate our request to use the circle in unprecedented ways.”
The Cancer League Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 that has raised and donated over $5 million toward the fight against cancer. It has an average yearly allocations budget of over $300,000 and an average grant size is between $10,000 – 50,000.
(Photos by Sam Deaner.)
Cancer League Event Chairperson Hilary Cooper (left) and Co-Chair Erin Brayer at the 2021 Annual Cancer League Soiree September 2, 2021 at the Claremont Country Club 
Cancer League president Lucy Arney (left) and member Barbara Dickason at the 2021 Annual Cancer League Soiree 
Amy Settlemier, Theresa Baum, Camilla Soghikian and Karen Ellis 
Cancer League members (from left) Chris Steiner, Jan Mathewson and Cece Mehlhoff at the check-in table 
Cancer League Member Rachelle Hebrard (center) with Gloria Frank (left) and Hebrard’s mother, Geraldine Vayson (right) 
Ann Patton and Sue Herrick 
Cory Smegal (from left) Terri Burge and Betsy Andersen 
Christina Maybaum, Brooke Wall, Kelly Winniford and Melissa Partovi 
Suzanne Heske, Lisa Settlemier, and Hilary Cooper 
Raffle Ticket helpers (from Left) Sara Broach, Sage Gilbert, Ellie Hersch and Lily Caldwell 
Raffle Ticket helpers Rylan Nelson, left, and Evan Manolis