Chesapeake Cancer Alliance Plans Decorator Show House Fundraiser at Rockfield Manor September 7 – 22

From the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance:

Preparations are in full swing for the opening of the 2013 Decorator Show House at Rockfield Manor in Bel Air, Maryland. The Show House is one of the major fund raising events of the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance and promises to be a stunning experience for sponsors and visitors to the original home of Charles H. McComas, designed by architect, Alfred Cookman, and built in the Prairie style in 1921.

Rockfield Manor provides 19 indoor and outdoor spaces to be decorated by area designers in harmony with the original style of the house. The Manor, currently owned and operated by the town of Bel Air and managed by the Rockfield Foundation, is regularly used as a meeting, wedding and social event venue, so the decorators were challenged to create original designs that would blend well for the future use of the site. Decorators generously donate their time and materials to this worthwhile effort and are sure to create a spectacular experience for the visitors.

The house will be open for 14 days from Saturday, September 7, through Sunday, September 22, but will be closed on Mondays. Rockfield Manor is located at 501 Churchville Road (Route 22), just north of the town and nestles into 5.4 acres of beautiful lawns and gardens. Advance tickets for visitors are priced at $20 apiece and will be available at Preston’s Stationery at 319 S. Main Street, Bel Air; Lavish Salon and Spa, 2739 Fallston Road (Route 152), in the Cross Roads Station Shopping Center in Fallston; Greenspring Gift House and Nursery, 1608 Jarrettsville Road, Jarrettsville; Simplicity Antiques & Home Décor, Franklin Street, Havre de Grace; and the Havre de Grace Visitors’ Center. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Along with the house tour, the site will also offer a café with box lunches prepared by McShane’s Gourmet and other light refreshments. A boutique on the site will provide artisanal crafts and products for purchase as well. Tickets will also be available for a themed basket raffle. Winners will be announced on Sunday, September 22. In addition, many of the decorating features within the house will be for sale through the CCA’s Decorator Sales.

While many sponsors have been lined up for this event, sponsorships are still available, and many benefits will accrue to the generous donors. Sponsors and invited guests will get the first look at the decorated mansion before it is open to the public at a catered preview party with dinner and dancing on Friday, September 6, from 6 – 11 p.m. at Rockfield Manor. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or attending the preview party may contact Sandy Guzewich at 410-838-3987 or email dcguzzy@gmail.com All proceeds from the Decorator Show House will benefit Cancer LifeNet and cancer related programs at the Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center at Upper Chesapeake Health in Bel Air.

The Chesapeake Cancer Alliance raises funds through projects, events, corporate and business partnerships, community donations and annual giving programs. Founded in 2003 by a group of women dedicated to providing a support network for Harford County residents diagnosed with cancer, CCA seeks to improve education, treatment, research, and resources for cancer patients. With over 150 active members, the organization continues to grow as more people become aware of its mission. All fundraising dollars support people diagnosed with cancer, as well as their families or friends, through the Cancer LifeNet program at Upper Chesapeake Health. Cancer is a disease which often is accompanied by fear and confusion regarding outcome, treatment, and navigation of the healthcare system. The Cancer LifeNet Program offers free-of-charge services to all residents of Harford and Cecil Counties, regardless of where they receive their cancer treatment. Services include education and assistance from oncology nurse navigators, counseling from oncology social workers, contacts with support groups and educational programs, and support from specially trained volunteer navigators who have personal experience with cancer. All of these services are free of charge due to the generosity of the volunteers and the community who participate in the CCA’s fundraising events. With over 1,250 new cancer patients per year in Harford County alone, the need for cancer care and supportive services is real and urgent. Past users of the services praise the accessibility and human kindness available through the Cancer LifeNet Program: “A brief internet search sent me straight to the Cancer LifeNet Program. I just couldn’t believe it. Here was this amazing resource right around the corner from my house in Bel Air. I was thrilled when I read what was available to me—counseling, various therapies. And here it was being offered free. That was such an amazing gift” (Marie Edmeades, Bel Air). “I’m glad I didn’t have to walk this journey alone, but that Cancer LifeNet was along with me. I don’t know how I would have managed without them” (Linda Dart).

The CCA Decorator Show House opening is concurrent with the expected opening of Upper Chesapeake Health’s Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center currently under construction on MacPhail Road. The Kaufman Cancer Center will offer a world class cancer treatment facility with state-of-the-art technology, highly-trained physicians, and access to a large regional health network due, in part, to the recent partnership of Upper Chesapeake Health with the University of Maryland Medical Center. This partnership enables the Kaufman Center access to resources such as clinical trials, the most current research, and the newest technological innovations.