Chemo Noir, a local nonprofit that provides financial support for cancer patients undergoing treatment, will host its annual fall gala fundraising event on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 3 Palms Grille in Ponte Vedra Beach.
According to Chemo Noir founder and chairwoman Katrin Casey, the gala is one of the nonprofit's two big events of the year.
"It's a nice way for everyone to come and raise money through our silent auction and we sell tickets to it," she said. "This year is going to have a DJ, good food, wine tasting, auction and it'll raise money for our cause."
To be held from 5 to 8 p.m., the gala will also feature an open area for guests to dance or mingle, a wine-tasting table, a full bar, hors d'oeuvres and more. About 50 items will be available for bidding at the auction ranging from experience packages to gift cards.
This year's event will be unique, Casey added, because Chemo Noir recipients who have been financially impacted will be in attendance.
"We'll have impact stories and some cool opportunities for people to meet some of the survivors that we've helped," Casey said.
Chemo Noir raises money through wine-centric events to help cancer patients offset the out-of-pocket medical costs of fighting cancer. Casey, a Nease graduate, founded the organization after beating cancer herself. Cancer-free for the last four years, Casey named her organization after a night designated for leisure time with her mother, featuring comfort food and wine.
"The cost can be incredibly crippling," Casey noted. "I know because I went through it myself. We have an application process where fighters can apply to receive funding and we review it as a board and then award the money. So far, we have fully funded three treatments."
Casey added that the organization is cancer- and age-agnostic and has helped individuals with brain cancer, breast cancer and a rare esophageal cancer.
"We try to be that resource for people who can't get their funding from other places," she said. "We work with the hospitals and social workers to pay those medical bills directly so the recipients don't have an additional financial burden."
For more information on the gala, visit the Chemo Noir website at www.chemonoir.com. Tickets — which are $75 for individuals and $150 for couples — are on sale until Friday night.
