Renowned local explorer and adventurer Helen Thayer, named by National Geographic Society as “One of the Great Explorers of the 20th Century,” will be the keynote speaker at the Providence Marianwood 12th Annual Spring Celebration Luncheon May 3.

Thayer, 74, was the first woman to circumnavigate the North Pole solo. She will talk about how she has overcome obstacles and persevered through hard times.

In 2010 the Women’s Center at the University of Washington honored Thayer as one of 100 Washington women who have broken barriers in a variety of fields. That same year Thayer was inducted into the Washington state and Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame.

John Curley, KIRO FM 97.3 radio host, will emcee the event.

The luncheon goes from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Bellevue Hilton Hotel. It is the premier fundraiser for the elderly residents who call Providence Marianwood home.

Contact Arlene Carter at 425-391-2895 or arlene.carter@providence.org to reserve seats for this event. Tickets are $50 per person. Luncheon proceeds will support the programs and services at Providence Marianwood. Donations to the Providence Marianwood Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) corporation, are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Providence Marianwood, located in Issaquah, is the only non-profit rehabilitation and long-term healthcare provider in the Issaquah/Sammamish area.