BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
What began as a one-day event to honor their late mother on what would have been her 70th birthday in 2014 has grown into a day of relaxation, pampering and fun for cancer survivors.
The annual A Day of Sass, held Tuesday evening at Fields at Skycrest, welcomed its largest group of women. Sisters Kristen Mayle and Jamie Beecham said they expected at least two dozen women to take part, but 30 were nominated by friends, family, health care workers and even themselves.
Usually, they said, some are not able to attend because of scheduling or health.
The women began trickling in at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and after signing in and being presented with several gifts, they were directed to a variety of stations to get a new hairstyle or touch up their current one, have makeup applied, receive a manicure or new lashes and step behind a barrier to get a facial. There was also a table for arts and crafts for children who accompanied their moms.
Tina Moore of Huntersville said A Day of Sass was a chance to do something for herself that she wouldn’t ordinally do.
“This is awesome,” Moore said. “It’s fun and it’s free.”
Mayle and Beecham designed the event to be free. To do that it takes volunteers and donations. All of the hairstylists, makeup artists, manicurists, those providing facials and the women putting lashes on those who visited their table were doing so free of charge.
Charlena Pinkston was one of the hairstylists. This was her third year of volunteering her talent.
Rosemary Robinson of Belmont sat in the stylist’s chair, holding a mirror and looking at Pinkston’s work. Her sister nominated her for A Day of Sass and she was thrilled with the opportunity.
“I love it. It’s great,” she said.
Nearby Hallie Mills talked with Kesha Wrice as she prepared to glue on new eyelashes. Wrice, who lives in Charlotte, said her nurse navigator nominated her.
Wrice said she was diagnosed earlier this year and is nearing the end of her treatment.
“I’ll be ringing that bell,” she said.
At another station, Kim Bowyer watched as Gabby Marcano painted her fingernails. Bowyer, who lives in Mooresville, said this was her second time attending A Day of Sass.
Bowyer said she was first diagnosed with cancer more than a dozen years ago. She opted for a double mastectomy and said cancer appeared to be in her rear view mirror. But a little over two years ago, the cancer reappeared. Now, she said, she’s taking life one day at a time and living her best life.
A Day of Sass, she said, offers her a chance to forget about the disease for a few hours.
“It made me feel great,” she said.
Mayle and Beecham said that’s exactly what they had in mind when they started A Day of Sass, and more than 10 years after they did what was supposed to be a one-off event, it continues to be a legacy for their mother, Sheila Braniff.