19th Annual Cancer Survivors Celebration Hosted by Cancer Institute

On June 4, 2011, the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute hosted the 19th Annual Cancer Survivors Celebration in conjunction with a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees baseball game. Approximately 500 cancer survivors and caregivers from throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania attended the event at PNC Field in Moosic, PA.

Jill Evans Kryston and Michael Costello, Cancer Survivors Celebration Committee Co-Chairs, were pleased to announce the event theme, “Life’s All-Star Line-up!” The highlight of the baseball-themed event was on-field recognition of cancer survivors and caregivers prior to the game during a short program. Participants made a giant circle on the field to the tune of “I Will Survive,” and waved yellow bandanas. Jill Kryston and Curt Stevens, both cancer survivors, shared a few words about the significance of the circle before 10-year-old survivor Mollie Ward threw out a great first pitch. Attendees also had the opportunity to sign the “Survivors Banner” and receive a survivor or caregiver pin.

Another new feature of the event this year was the addition of a “Virtual Display Booth” online information gallery. This website features information on local cancer resources provided by area organizations and takes the place of the staffed resource booths that were set up at the event in past years. Anyone who visits the site to view the information is also able to enter to win several raffle prizes. The online gallery can be accessed until July at the Cancer Institute website (www.cancernepa.org).