Heywood & Athol Hospitals to Display Luminary Bags from Relay for Life

GARDNER, Mass. - July 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Gardner, MA – Although pouring rains kept the Greater Gardner Relay for Life from lighting the Luminary Bags during this June’s event, Heywood and Athol Hospitals have each dedicated days in August to honor those battling cancer, and those whom we have lost to the disease.

“We know many people were disappointed that we could not display the Luminary Bags due to the weather. Family members spend a lot of time decorating the bags in honor of loved ones, and we wanted to provide a venue to display the bags and show our continued support,” Sandy Ryder, Heywood Hospital’s Director of Oncology/ Specialty.

Heywood Hospital’s Circle of Life Team, in conjunction with Athol Hospital’s Hearts and Soles team, have raised over $11,500 to date through donations, selling “Fight Like a Girl” apparel, Heywood Hospital apparel, raffles and even a few bake sales. Anyone looking to donate can contact Sandra Ryder at (978) 669-5642. Donations are being accepted through August 13th.  

The Luminary Display at Athol Hospital will be held from Tuesday, August 6th through Thursday, August 8th. Bags will be illuminated with tea light candles and can be seen in the lobby area. Heywood Hospital will display the bags in the hospital atrium the following week, from Tuesday, August 13th through Thursday, August 16th.

Annually held on Mount Wachusett Community College’s campus, the Greater Gardner Relay has raised over $12 million for the American Cancer Society over the twenty years, and the Gardner Relay holds the record for most money raised in Massachusetts and New England. Over the years, the Gardner Relay for Life event has been ranked 4th in the United States and has consistently ranked as the No. 1 event of its kind in New England and among the most successful worldwide.

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About Heywood Healthcare

Heywood Healthcare is an independent, community-owned healthcare system located in the North Central region of Massachusetts. It is comprised of Heywood Hospital, a non-profit, 153-bed acute-care hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25-bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; Heywood Medical Group with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region; and four satellite facilities -Winchendon Health Center and Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon, West River Health Center in Orange and Heywood Rehabilitation Center in Gardner.

About Heywood Hospital

Part of the Heywood Healthcare system, Heywood Hospital is a 153-bed acute care hospital in Gardner, MA, which provides a broad range of high quality medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital’s Centers of Excellence include the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center; and the Heywood Heart Center, an affiliate of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at UMass Memorial Health Care.