90 attend 2nd annual PCH Women’s Tea event

The Putnam County Women’s Tea Committee is composed of (from left) Becky Hutcheson, Joni Perkins, Mary Beth Kaiser, Joanne Cantrell, Julie Beatty, Jules Becker, Rhonda McCammack, Nancy Kittle, Brooke Trissel, Hannah Cline and Diana Blanton. The second annual event was held April 17 at the Inn at DePauw.

Courtesy photo

Putnam County Hospital staged its second annual Women’s Tea at The Inn at DePauw on Wednesday, April 17 with more than 90 women -- ranging in age from 17 to 90 -- in attendance to learn more about skin cancer prevention and awareness.

“The goal of our Women’s Tea is to help further educate women in our community about preventative methods of different types of cancer and signs and symptoms to look for,” PCH Director of Marketing and Community Relations Brooke Trissel said. “This year we chose the topic of skin cancer and I believe it is something that is often times looked over. If we can help save one life or influence one person to get a skin screening then we had a successful event.”

The program opened with an introduction and welcome from PCH Director of Nursing Joni Perkins, followed by Dr. John Stevens, dermatologist at Putnam County Hospital, who spoke in depth about what to look for to detect early signs on skin cancer.

Putnam County Oncology patient Joy Marley of Greencastle shares her story of battling with melanoma and the exceptional care she received at Putnam County Hospital.

Courtesy photo

Dr. Keith Thomae of Putnam Surgical Specialties was the next speaker, using an in-depth power point presentation to speak on the subject. Then Mary Beth Kaiser, director of pharmacy at PCH, was entertaining and informative speaking about sunscreen and what the different SPF numbers mean.

The speakers wrapped up with a testimonial from Putnam County Oncology patient Joy Marley who shared her story of battling with melanoma.

“I was able to receive exceptional healthcare close to home,” Marley said several times throughout her presentation.

When she was done speaking there was not a dry eye in the room, Director of Marketing Trissel said.

“Becky Hutcheson had asked Joy to speak and she was a little hesitant and nervous, but she was absolutely fabulous,” Trissel added. “Her story is something that many can learn from and I believe she touched many lives this evening.”

As the event came to a close everyone in attendance received a PCH beach bag filled with information, sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses (compliments of The Waters of Greencastle), two Triple M Bakery cookies (compliments of Autumn Glen) and a beach towel (compliments of Hickory Creek).

“Putnam County Hospital and Cancer Center cannot thank the women in attendance, our guest speakers or the amazing businesses that donated items for our gift and raffle enough. It was a great evening for all,” Trissel said.