FIRST LADY GINGER BEEBE SPEAKS AT CARTI LUNCHEN

First lady Ginger Beebe speaks at CARTI luncheon
DEB PETERSON • Bulletin Staff Writer • May 7, 2009


Beebe spoke to 220 women Wednesday at the sold-out "Splash into Spring" Mother's Day luncheon and fashion show hosted by Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute at Big Creek Golf & Country Club.

The annual luncheon, now in its third year, is proving to be a major fundraising event for CARTI. It brought in $17,000 last year, all of which stayed in the Mountain Home CARTI facility.

"We already have that much in sponsorship," said Gayla Thompson, CARTI Community Outreach Chairman.

Proceeds from the seven items auctioned live at the event increased that amount by $3,000, and the sale of 90 silent auction items hadn't yet been totaled.

"New this year," said Thompson, "are the parties."

Three parties were auctioned, including a pool party for 10 children hosted by Kathryn and Joe Miles, a wine and cheese party offered by Danny and Barbara Williams, and a candlelight cocktail party donated by Mike and Gayla Thompson. The wine and cheese party went for $700. A necklace from Carter's Jewel Chest, a two-night stay at White River Inn, an original painting by Duane Hada and a tan and white Shih Tzu also were auctioned.

The personal side
"This has been the most fun," Beebe said when she spoke after the auction. "CARTI holds a special place in my heart because my aunt used CARTI in Little Rock back in 1988. I am always in awe of them. They are always searching for new technology. We are so fortunate to have it in our state."

Karla Green of Bull Shoals, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Baxter Regional Medical Center, gives CARTI similar glowing marks from her own personal experience. Green was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2007.

"I opted to stay in Mountain Home for treatment because I felt they offered excellent care," Green said.

For six weeks, Green had radiation treatments at CARTI five days a week.

She found the CARTI staff prompt, caring, always very respectful and conscientious of her time. She was in and out in 30 minutes every time.

"It's a wonderful place to go," she said. "I don't think you could find any better care anywhere else."

Barbara Williams, who has served on the CARTI board for three years, recognized Katrina Clements, facility director at CARTI in Mountain Home, as one of the many caring people on the staff.

"Cancer is scary, and it's scary walking through those doors," Williams said. "Katrina will meet you at the door with a smiling face and a very, very big heart. She is the glue of the CARTI facility."

Williams is a two-time survivor of cancer herself and feels very fortunate to be alive and involved with CARTI.

"From a cancer survivor's perspective," she said, "events like this are important because you get information and many survivors attend. It's a chance to celebrate them, and women currently going through treatment can look around the room, hear survivors talk about their experience and see that there is hope.

"It's an upbeat couple of hours when they don't have to worry about anything."

Eleanor Stein, a member of the "Splash into Spring" committee, knows firsthand about the encouragement cancer patients provide each other. She was a CARTI patient in 2001 when she had breast cancer. There was a woman in her 70s who always had the appointment after Stein and was being treated for facial cancer. Treatment required that she wear a wire mask that scared her.

"I can't do it," she said to Stein one day.

"I told her, 'You just close your eyes and think of the most beautiful place you can imagine, and you go there,' " Stein recalled.

The luncheon was dedicated to the memory of Stein's husband, Joe, who died of cancer in February, and to John Eric Wham, who died in March.


For more information about CARTI, call 424-2200.

dpeterson@baxterbulletin.com