Inside Anne’s Closet To Make Colorectal Cancer A Fashionable Topic Of Discussion

Inside Anne’s Closet combines fashion and colorectal cancer awareness for a unique luncheon to raise funds and save lives on Monday, May 13. Notable Bay Area athletes will walk the runway and NBC Bay Area anchor Jessica Aguirre will host founding chair John Paye, gastroenterologist Dr. Vicky Yang and caregiver Daniel Zimmermann, among others, to discuss their experiences and expertise around colorectal cancer.

Key points:

• Inside Anne’s Closet takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Monday, May 13, at luxury hotel Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, California.
• The event, now in its fifth year, has raised nearly $1 million for national nonprofit Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Nearly 250 attendees are expected.
• Colorectal cancer is the nation’s second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with more than 15,000 new cases expected in California this year.
• The fashion show program includes models from Stanford University athletics wearing fashions from local retailers and designers, including those from Bloomingdale’s Stanford, Harwood, Luisa Spagnoli, Patrick James and Stella & Dot, as well as designs from Carmen Marc Valvo.

“Inside Anne’s Closet mixes fashion and philanthropy, athletes and music, with colorectal cancer awareness and prevention,” said Amy Paye Venuto, event steering committee chair. “It’s an upbeat outdoors program bringing together diverse worlds while sharing a vital message: too many people are lost to colorectal cancer, and it’s largely preventable.”

As part of the program, Daniel Zimmermann, prominent lawyer and caregiver to his wife Deborah, will discuss the triumphs and challenges associated with caregiving.

“I’m looking forward to sharing our story and recognizing, for caregivers everywhere, that colorectal cancer is truly a disease that in many ways strikes a patient’s whole family,” Zimmermann said. “Deborah is my high school sweetheart, and I’m proud to be her caregiver as she defeats this disease.” Deborah is currently recovering from surgery at Stanford Hospital.

Inside Anne’s Closet is in honor of founding chair John Paye and Amy Paye Venuto’s mother Anne, who died in June 2013 at age 68 from the disease. John Paye is a Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame quarterback and former San Francisco 49ers teammate. Anne, a lover of fashion, was always dressed to the nines, and John inspired family and friends to band together and raise awareness about colorectal cancer screening.