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Chairs for Charity

Arcadia Coffee Company is redecorating, but the cozy interior of the popular hot spot isn't being changed. What is being added to the coffee house are "chairs for charity" in support of the Breast Cancer Alliance. Arcadia Coffee Company will be offering its patrons an opportunity to support this worthy cause and wear their cause on their back, so to speak, with new chairs bearing the gift-givers name. Each chair will cost $100 with 50 percent of proceeds going directly to the Breast Cancer Alliance. People can participate with as little as $5 for a piece of a chair, $25 for a quarter of a chair, $50 for half a chair and $100 for the entire chair. The new chairs will each be hand painted by a local artist.

Jenny and Thomas Lawton, owners of Arcadia Coffee Company in Old Greenwich and Just Books, Too, located next door, suffered the loss last year of their sister-in-law to breast cancer. They have been actively involved with the Breast Cancer Alliance for the past several years in hopes of helping others battle the disease. In addition to the chairs for charity program, the Lawtons have dedicated a portion of sales from Just Books, Too to the Breast Cancer Alliance during the busy holiday shopping season.

"Breast cancer strikes women young and old," noted Jenny Lawton, whose sister-in-law was only 35 when she lost her battle to breast cancer. "This is our small way of supporting the alliance and giving people a daily reminder of the disease and how to help."

Anyone interested in supporting the Breast Cancer Alliance and purchasing a chair for charity can contact Arcadia Coffee Company at 203-637-8766. Arcadia Coffee Company is located at 20 Arcadia Road, Old Greenwich, Conn.

The Breast Cancer Alliance was founded in March 1996 by Mary Waterman. Waterman was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and knew that her chances for long-term survival were not good. She wanted to help other women fight breast cancer through research, health education, and most importantly early detection. Mary passed away 1997, however, her courage and determination continue to be an inspiration today. The mission of the Breast Cancer Alliance is to fund innovative breast cancer research and to promote breast health through education and outreach. Breast cancer survivors, their friends and health-care professionals are fulfilling this mission. In 2005, the Breast Cancer Alliance has awarded $1.4 million in grants to 19 research projects and education and outreach programs in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. About 211,240 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2005. About 40,410 women will die from the disease this year. Right now there are slightly over 2 million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. For more information on the Breast Cancer Alliance, go to www.breastcanceralliance.org