Bethel Musicians to Play Benefit Concert for Ann's Place

BETHEL, CT—Bethel musician Steve O'Tree, also known as Steve Troiano, will play a benefit concert with his band this Saturday. The benefit is being organized by former Bethel resident Wendy Mitchell, a Ridgefield mom of three, musician, and former Patch editor who is happy to be celebrating five years cancer free. Her band, Brookfield-based Decades, is a rock cover band, and is headlining the concert which will be held at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center on Saturday, February 15th at 6 p.m. at 6 Lake Ave., Danbury.

The two bands will be playing with Traveling Danburys which includes DJs Tim Sheehan and John Perry from i95FM. Mitchell has chosen to give back to Ann’s Place, a Danbury charity that helped her when she was first diagnosed with a rare type of breast cancer called "Triple Negative Metaplastic Carcinoma," an aggressive type only found in 1% of women diagnosed. Ann's Place provides free programs and services for cancer patients and their families. Mitchell was able to participate in yoga, reiki and therapy sessions while undergoing intense treatment for the disease back in 2015 - 2016.

Decades is comprised of seasoned musicians who play a wide variety of music from the 1950s through the modern day. Joe Sassano, of Ridgefield, heads up the band, plays bass and sings. Kevin McLain, who hails from New Fairfield, plays guitar as does Brookfield guitarist Bob Ralston. Drummer Frank Aulenti is from Monroe and also sings. Vocalist Wendy Mitchell is from Newtown and Bethel but has resided in Ridgefield since 2016.

Mitchell has blogged about her journey in order to raise awareness for the rare type of cancer she had which was only just discovered in 2000. She initially encouraged people to do self breast exams for early detection through her #MyLeftBoob selfie campaign in which her friends and family posted selfies of their clothed left boob using that hashtag. Mitchell found the lump in her left breast in between mammograms after dropping a glob of hair dye on her left breast while dyeing her hair. The cancer was found at stage 2A and it's this self, early detection which saved her life.

Mitchell had to undergo an intense treatment play to remove any last trace of cancer and has held four benefit concerts for Ann's Place and Relay for Life since being diagnosed. Mitchell's medical oncologist was Dr. Robert Cooper, a highly acclaimed physician and co-founder of Ann's Place.

Music, prayer, and the support of her church, friends, family and her "sisters" at the Danbury Irish Cultural Center, is what Mitchell said helped to get her through an intense therapy plan including multiple surgeries, dose-dense ACT chemotherapy, and 30 rounds of targeted radiation. Click here to read her story from the beginning of her diagnosis.

At Saturday's benefit concert, there will be food, beverages and raffle tickets available to purchase. Raffle prizes include a chance to win one or more of the following prizes, generously donated by local merchants:

(2) Tickets to see award-winning Celtic band Altan at The Ridgefield Playhouse

(2) George Casey's Hilarious Irish Comedy show at The Danbury Palace Theater
(2) Movie tickets to The Prospector Theater
(1) Gift basket from UK Gourmet

A suggested donation of $10 or more will be collected with all proceeds going to Ann’s Place. The kitchen opens with a pub menu at 5:30 p.m. If you or someone you love has been touched by cancer, please consider coming and helping to raise money for a great cause.

The scheduled band lineup for the evening is as follows:

• 6-6:45 pm Steve O’Tree & Friends
• 7-7:45 pm Traveling Danburys
• 8:30-11 pm - Decades

For online tickets, click here.
Questions? Email wendipoprock@gmail.com or call/text 203-501-7424.

About Ann's Place:
Ann’s Place provides help and hope to those living with cancer and their loved ones. Our clinical social workers, facilitators and wellness experts provide a host of services aimed at improving quality of life during and after cancer. Ann’s Place relies on the generosity of donors to be able to continue providing these services free of charge.
Our mission is to provide comfort, support and resources to people living with cancer and to their loved ones. We assist you and your loved ones to create a unique pathway through cancer to improve your quality of life. At Ann's Place, all are welcome.
We serve hundreds of people from across Connecticut and lower Hudson Valley New York. That is only a small portion of the tens of thousands who are living with cancer in our area. Connecticut alone has over 150,000 cancer survivors. If you or someone you know is facing cancer, find out how we can help.

Photo: Wendy Ann Mitchell
Credit: Wendy Ann Mitchell