Press release
Local Partnership Holds Event to Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day
May 30, 2013 – St. John’s, NL: Eastern Health, in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and Young Adult Cancer Canada, will celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day Sunday, June 2, 2013 with a walk from Mundy Pond Road to Daffodil Place on Ropewalk Lane in St. John’s.
“Advances in the diagnosis and treatment for cancer are evident in the ever-increasing population of cancer survivors,” said Katherine Chubbs, Vice President responsible for Cancer Care and Chief Nursing Officer at Eastern Health. “Cancer Survivors Day celebrates those people and families who have been given a new start after overcoming a cancer diagnosis, and also recognizes the health care providers, family members and community advocates who supported these survivors through their journey to wellness.”
National Cancer Survivors Day started in the United States in 1987, and is now recognized worldwide. Local cancer survivors, along with family and friends, health professionals and members of the general public are encouraged to join with millions around the world and celebrate the fact that cancer is no longer a death sentence. This is the second year that Eastern Health, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and Young Adult Cancer Canada have come together to celebrate National Survivors Day. Last year, the four groups joined forces for the first time to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day with an event at Bowring Park in St. John’s.
“In our lifetime, one in three people in our province will be diagnosed with cancer,” Matthew Piercey, Executive Director of the Canadian Cancer Society, Newfoundland and Labrador Division. “I am honoured to be a part of this group that is celebrating life after a cancer diagnosis. The events planned for June 2, 2013, will provide an opportunity for cancer survivors to connect with other survivors, celebrate milestones and recognize the healthcare providers, family, and friends who have supported them along the way.”
The event on Sunday starts at 12:45 p.m. at the parking lot across from the Mews Centre on Mundy Pond Road in St. John’s with remarks from Matthew Piercey. Remarks will be followed by a celebratory walk at 1 p.m. to Daffodil Place on 70 Ropewalk Lane. A reception will be held at Daffodil Place following the walk, where cancer survivor Susan Penney and members from each of the partnering organization will say a few words. There will be a number of activities available to people of all ages at the reception including face painting, snacks and refreshments and musical entertainment provided by local musician Kathy Stock. There will also be a cancer survivor’s wall, in which survivors are encouraged to decorate with ribbons containing their name and year(s) of survivorship.
“We are pleased to once again join with our partners, Eastern Health, Young Adult Cancer Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society – NL Division, in celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day,” said Lynette Hillier, Executive Director, Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation. “The Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation receives an immeasurable amount of support throughout our province in support of cancer care, which has allowed for significant advances in cancer treatment and tools for our cancer care teams. National Cancer Survivors Day has given us the opportunity to celebrate the impact of those investments.”
In addition to celebrating Cancer Survivors Day, Eastern Health, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation and Young Adult Cancer Canada also support cancer survivors in other ways, examples include:
• Eastern Health offers a six-week program for cancer survivors who are transitioning from active treatment to post treatment. The program, Cancer Transitions, Moving Beyond Treatment, is designed to provide cancer survivors with support and education about exercise, nutrition, emotional health, well-being and medical management that will help them as they continue on their path to wellness. This program is partly funded by the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Care Foundation.
• The Canadian Cancer Society offers support to cancer survivors through cancer support groups across Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, the Canadian Cancer Society also manages an online community, CancerConnection.ca, that aims to help people who have received a cancer diagnosis, including survivors, and their loved ones share their experiences and build supportive relationships.
• Young Adult Cancer Canada aims to help the 7,000 young adults in Canada diagnosed with cancer each year transition through and beyond their cancer experiences by providing cost-free web-based and face-to-face programs such as Retreat Yourself, the Survivor Conference, Localife, and a thriving online survivor community.
“The cancer journey doesn’t always end when treatment is over, and events like National Cancer Survivors Day reminds us to celebrate everything that comes with survivorship,” said Geoff Eaton, Founder and Executive Director of Young Adult Cancer Canada. “It’s amazing to partner with incredible organizations and individuals in St. John’s, and across Canada, to honour the successes as we continue working together to improve the lives of people with cancer.”
Sunday’s event will go ahead, rain or shine. All interested participants are asked to meet at 12:45 p.m. at the parking lot across from the Mews Centre on Mundy Pond Road.
About Eastern Health
Eastern Health is the largest, integrated health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador employing approximately 13,000 dedicated employees and serving a population of more than 290,000 people. The authority has an annual budget of about $1.3 billion and offers the full continuum of health and community services including public health, long-term care, community services, hospital care and unique provincial programs and services. Its geographic boundaries extend from St. John’s west to Port Blandford including all communities on the Avalon, Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas.
