Cancer Center at Lowell General Hospital Celebrates Third Annual Survivorship Day
June 25, 2010 – Lowell, Mass. – Survivorship ... it is a journey that begins at the very moment of cancer diagnosis and continues with you, forever. On June 9th, 2010, survivors and their loved ones, along with yellow-clad caregivers and staff of the Cancer Center at Lowell General filled Clark Auditorium for the 3rd Annual Survivorship Day celebration.
Claudia Rupp, director of Cancer Services, addressed the crowd of more than 100 people who gathered, “Today your courage and strength, together with our team, stand together side by side to help support your mission – the mission to continue to live and thrive regardless of your diagnosis.”
With spirit, hope and encouragement, the evening featured dinner, music, a display of paintings done by those in the Healing Through Art program, and helpful information for living with cancer. Stories of inspiration in the words of cancer survivors were also on display; as a way to celebrate the unique journey each is traveling. Guests enjoyed chair massages, trying out temporary tattoos, face painting, and raffle prize drawings that had everyone cheering. Gift bags and handmade pillows were provided to each survivor.
Through celebration of survivorship and sharing, attendees were reminded that they are not alone; that fear and pain may be part of the road traveled, but there is also hope, faith, courage and strength. In the words of non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor Madeline Stone of Billerica, “Cancer can be a bump in the road with many miles ahead to look forward to.” Other guest speakers included Helen Sullivan and Katy VanDyne, both of Chelmsford, each sharing their own words of encouragement.
A beautiful luminary service led by Jean Brown, RN concluded the evening to bring a calm peace to all attendees, and sent them on their way filled with love, thanks, courage and hope.
