When Kevin O'Connell was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer a few years ago, he noticed a brochure about Sunstone Cancer Support Centers in his oncologist's office.
The organization's healing center is in his East Side neighborhood, but he never knew what was offered down the winding dirt road marked by a Sunstone sign.
"I told Patricia that Sunstone is unfortunately one of the best-kept secrets in Tucson,'' O'Connell said, referring to a conversation with Sunstone's president, Patricia Harmon.
In early October, O'Connell and Harmon are hoping more Tucsonans will come out and learn about Sunstone, 2545 N. Woodland Road, at its fourth annual artisans fair.
The fair will feature the works of more than 60 local artists, some cancer survivors themselves. It will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7-8.
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Twenty-five percent of the artists' proceeds will be donated to Sunstone, which includes the East Side healing center as well as cancer resource centers at local hospitals.
This is the second year O'Connell has chaired the event, which brought in $20,000 last year. This year, he said they are hoping to raise $25,000.
"It's given me a chance to give back to the cancer community, which means a lot to me,'' said O'Connell, who just celebrated his third year without cancer. "It's been a wonderful experience."
Currently, one in four people will be affected by cancer, Harmon said. Sunstone offers services not only for people affected by cancer directly, but also for their family members and friends.
"Sunstone is here for anyone touched by cancer,'' she said. "When a person in a family has cancer, the whole family has cancer.''
Hidden away on 14 acres of mesquite bosques near East Tanque Verde Road and Catalina Highway, Sunstone originally was a guest ranch built in the late 1800s.
Tucson-based Arizona Oncology Associates acquired the property in 2001 with money from Canyon Ranch founders Mel and Enid Zuckerman; developer Don Diamond and his wife, Joan; and auto dealer Jim Click and his wife, Vicki.
Donations and fundraisers are what keep Sunstone open today, Harmon said. Participants are charged on a sliding scale. "As much as possible, we try to keep the costs low,'' she said.
The Sunstone Healing Center is visited by about 4,000 people each year. Many come for weekend retreats Sunstone puts on while others are day visitors for therapies such as massage, acupuncture, meditation and yoga.
"Sunstone is there to provide what I think are invaluable services that are otherwise unmet in the community,'' said Dr. Robert Brooks, a Tucson oncologist who has helped cancer patients here for 25 years.
Brooks said he has watched resources for cancer patients dwindle during his career.
"A lot of the stuff that Sunstone is now supporting used to happen at the hospital level,'' he said.
Harmon, who is also a partner of a cancer survivor, said the artisans' fair is one of their main fundraisers.
"I would encourage people to come over and support a very important cause that can affect any of us,'' she said. "This is a community resource and we want people to come and see it and learn about Sunstone."
Harmon said the fair, which is sponsored by Arizona Oncology Associates, will include pottery, jewelry, metals, wood, textiles and glass works.
"And for people who just want to come and sit on the grass and eat, that's great,'' she said. The Sunstone Cafe will be open throughout the event, she said, and there will be a variety of live music throughout the weekend.
There will also be raffle prizes including day spas at Canyon Ranch.
East Side
What: The Fourth Annual Sunstone Artisans' Fair.Where: Sunstone Cancer Support Centers, 2545 N. Woodland Road
When: Oct. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information: call 749-1928 or visit www.sunstonehealing.org
