Benefit For Cancer-Stricken Sutt Family Daughter

Marva Sutt has gained a well-earned reputation on Marco Island as someone who demonstrates her concern for those in need, not just with words, but with action. 

Over her 33 years as a resident, she’s helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for the Marco office of the American Cancer Society, with the assistance of her husband Jim. Sutt is also known for volunteering her time and sewing skills in making more than 800 Memory Bears for Vitas Hospice. She and other volunteer seamstresses made more than 700 masks for the families of hospice patients during the pandemic so that they could come and see their loved ones during the mask shortage.

In a tragic reversal of circumstances, Sutt is now asking the community to help fulfill the dreams for her daughter, Lori France, 53, who is receiving palliative care at Avow Hospice for both stage four metastatic breast cancer and stage four bone cancer. The cancer has spread to France’s liver, spine and a shoulder, and a new tumor has been discovered in a breast.

Sutt has organized a fundraiser for France. Entitled “Benefit for Lori,” the dinner and show featuring popular local entertainer Johnny Fusco, is set for March 6 in the clubhouse of the Quail Roost community in Naples. The evening affair will include a 50-50 drawing, a raffle, door prizes, and silent and live auctions. The meal options are baked ziti, chicken divan and a vegan stir-fry, with pasta.

“She’s got two dying wishes,” said Sutt. “The doctors do not give her much longer to live and I decided that if I can do it for the American Cancer Society, why can’t I do it for my daughter? She was diagnosed three and a half years ago and after five surgeries in Indiana, she decided to move down here with me because she had lost her job and quite a bit of everything because of her medical bills.” 

Sutt described the bills her daughter has incurred combating the disease as being “astronomical” and she has established a special bank account for monetary donations to help pay down those bills.

While she’s able, France hopes to make cherished memories with her three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, Vivienne, by sharing a trip to the American Girl Doll Store in Miami for a day of fun and pampering. France’s other desire is for a trip to Key West. 

Merchants from Marco and Isles of Capri, all the way to the commercial area around the intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 951, have shown incredible generosity with donations of money, services and goods for the dinner and auctions, said Sutt. 

The Subway sandwich shop on Marco is donating all salads and the meatball hors d’oeuvres for the dinner and Z's Music Kitchen, formerly Ben Allen's Backyard Grill and Pub, is donating the appetizers, desserts and rolls. 

Auction items include restaurant gift certificates, two tickets for the Key West Express, two nights at the Inn at Pelican Bay in Naples, two tickets for the Marco Princess, a jet-ski excursion from Capt. Ron’s Awesome Everglades Adventures on Marco and more. 

 “Everybody on this island, when they found out this was for my daughter, they’ve just gone overboard,” said Sutt.

The Quail Roost clubhouse only seats 120 and a limited number of tickets remain for the fundraiser. Tickets are $25.

Quail Roost is located off Manatee Road. The community’s clubhouse is located at 100 Roost Road. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact Sutt at 239-682-3515.