SOMERVILLE – Somerset County employees who have rallied around a fellow worker being treated for breast cancer recently extended that show of support to other patients at the Steeplechase Cancer Center.

As part of a “Pink Out” breast-cancer awareness event, members of the Somerset County Planning Division staff – joined by several Freeholders and other county employees – presented donations to patients in the oncology section of Somerset Medical Center on Oct. 15.  Planning staff wore matching pink T-shirts and gathered with hospital representatives for the presentation in the Steeplechase lobby.

“This was one of the nicest mornings I’ve spent,” Freeholder Patricia Walsh said of the cancer-center presentation.  “This was such a wonderful outpouring of generosity and caring.”

Using donated items from dozens of county employees, Planning staffers had assembled 115 gift bags of items for cancer patients at the center.  Seven of the bags held items specifically for breast-cancer patients.  Three large gift baskets also were donated, filled with extra items for individual distribution.  The group was able to visit 22 patients in the Steeplechase Center’s infusion areas on Oct. 15.

The “Pink Out” event was spearheaded by Principal Planner Tara Kenyon of Manville, who has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer since being diagnosed in January.

In addition to her fellow employees in the Planning Division, employees in Engineering, the Adjuster’s Office, the Clerk of the Freeholder Board’s office and others joined in the “Pink Out” theme for the day, wearing pink shirts, ties, pins and other accessories.