Sadly our friend and fellow Soroptimist, Anthea Parnell, has lost her battle with ovarian cancer. A few of our members share their memories of Anthea;
Liz, “Anth
ea was our Club President from 1998 to 1999. I’ve had a look back through our activities that year and Anthea brought her usual mix of fun and thoughtfulness to the programme. We had some really interesting speakers and our activities focused on raising awareness of various issues, especially street children, landmines, domestic abuse and young carers. We supported the Jaipur Limb Scheme, and Anthea’s particular passion was the National Meningitis Trust, for which Anthea encouraged us to raise a substantial donation. I especially remember Anthea’s Presidential Lunch, which was held on the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway and a great day out!”.
Lillian “One of my first duties when I was president was to go with the club to Osnabruck. I had the good fortune to be staying at Marie -Louise’s home with Anthea .she was a great support to me and we had some good laughs – I can recall that went shopping as I had not realised how cold it would be in northern Europe and how wet we would get ! she helped me choose a coat which I still have . that day we returned to Marie – Louise’s soaking wet with clothes being hung everywhere to dry off” .
Sue, ” It was due to Anthea being on a Soroptimist stall at a Mid Kent College multi cultural event in 1997 that I became a Soroptimist! She sold it to me well! At the AGM when she became our President in 1998 there was a raffle. I remember her huge giggles when someone chose the raffle prize of a compact (used for ladies face powders) as it was your grandmother’s and she had lost it that evening and it ended up with the prizes! We laughed about it many times together because your grandmothers astonished face was a picture! I also remember celebrating your mother’s 50th birthday with such fun in Holland where we the Soroptmists were on a trip for the 10 yearly flower festival called Floriade. She so enjoyed that evening and a few bottles were drunk!
A woman dies from ovarian cancer every two hours, yet the diagnosis and treatment lags behind high profile diseases like prostate or breast cancer. Ovarian Cancer Action – a UK charity dedicated to beating the sixth most common cancer in women aims to empower women, to give them a voice, and to create a better future for the thousands of mothers, partners, sisters, daughters and friends affected by this disease.
Join us to hear Ross Little from Ovarian Cancer Action giving a talk to raise awareness. 7.30pm Thursday 8th March at Holiday Inn Rochester, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent, Rochester ME5 9SF