The Scenic City Women’s Network Marketplace Luncheon will be held on Thursday, Jan. 23 from noon-1 p.m. at the Mountain City Club, 729 Chestnut St., and will feature speaker Fara Cecil, program coordinator at Helen Ross McNabb Center.
Ms. Cecil, came to the United States as a student in 1990. She received her bachelor’s degree in family science from Montreat Anderson College, NC, and went to Regent University of Virginia to earn her masters of counseling. She moved to Atlanta and began working in her field, counseling patients at Emory Hospital, as the chaplain. While there, she met her husband, David Cecil, and moved to Chattanooga, after getting married in 1997.
She continued her career in counseling working as a trauma counselor. She said she considers this most rewarding because of her passion for helping women in her community. She also started a rape crisis center and sewing center in Pakistan, in order to help give a second chance to women in poverty.
Ms. Cecil also has two teenage boys, Joshua and Jonathan, who are in a college and high school.
Ms. Cecil was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in January 2017 at the age of 47. She had the tumor removed surgically in February 2017, and started chemo. Her treatment consisted of weekly chemo doses for six months, after which she received five weeks of radiation. She lost her hair, eyelashes and eyebrows due to the chemo; however, she did not lose hope or faith. In fact, she said since God has brought healing in her life, her wish and desire is to share Christ with others through her personal testimony.
"Join SCWN as Ms. Cecil shares her inspirational story that will encourage and strengthen your faith," organizers said.
Reservation deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 21 at noon. Make reservations at reservations@scwn.org, or by calling 423-698-6262. Cost is $20.