Community Corner

Shelton Woman Organizes 'Cut-A-Thon' For Cancer Research

Shelton's Karyn Wade started a foundation to honor her mother Janet Daniels, who succumbed to the disease in 2008.

When her husband passed away, Janet Daniels of Milford raised their six children alone, while caring for infants in the labor and delivery room of St. Vincent's Medical Center over the course of her 35-year nursing career. Then at age 70, she needed the care of others. Diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer, Daniels' daughter Karyn Wade said her mother handled the disease with dignity and grace before losing a hard fought battle on Oct. 23, 2008.

In honor of her mother's memory, Wade, now a Shelton resident, established the Janet Daniels Foundation to raise funds for research and awareness of ovarian cancer, which is known as "the disease that whispers" for the mild symptoms that sneak up on its victims.

On Sunday, a Cut-A-Thon fundraiser will be held at Grand Illusions, a hair salon at 477 Main St. in Monroe. Gina Greco, owner of the salon and a friend of Wade's, and eight hairdressers will volunteer, cutting and styling hair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and the Yale New Haven Discover the Cure program.

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Carl Anthony's Trattoria, 477 Main Street in Monroe, will donate pizza and there will also be music, spray tans, temporary tattoos, raffles and crafts for kids. Among the raffle prizes are Comedy Club tickets for Comix at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Wade said attending the event is free and that donations consist of the cost of the haircuts. Greco, who has done Wade's hair for nearly a decade, approached her with the idea for the Cut-A-Thon.

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"She is always so gracious and generous and she supports all community causes," Wade said. "She just has a good heart. I like to support local vendors and I especially like to support businesses who give back to worthy causes like mine."

Greco said, "Every year we do a fundraiser for something. Last year we did a cut-a-thon for breast cancer. I would love a cure for any kind of cancer."

Greco, who opened Grand Illusions at Clock Tower Square last year, also expressed an interest in helping Wade.

"She was my client first, then we became friends," Greco said, adding of Wade's family, "I love them. They're wonderful people. She supported me when I came here and now I want to support her."

Wade has raised money through an annual Poker Motorcyle Run and she hopes to have a cut-a-thon every year too.

A longtime Monroe resident, Wade grew up in Trumbull. She has two children Buddy, 14, and Savannah, 13.

Janet Daniels had lived in a beach house in Milford. In addition to her career at St. Vincent's, she also worked private duty at the Orange Health Care Center in Orange.

"She was well respected and handled her illnesss like she handled her life — with grace and dignity," Wade said. "She tried every treatment that was available to her with the attitude, 'If it doesn't help me, maybe it will help someone else in the future."


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