The annual Tour of the Litchfield Hills celebrated its seventh anniversary on Sunday, August 1st by returning to Coe Park to benefit the Center for Cancer Care.
The event raised nearly ninety thousand dollars for the patient assistance fund, which provides support for cancer patients residing in Northwest Connecticut.
The Center for Cancer Care fund, INC. is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance for unexpected emergencies for which there is no other resource, such as food, transportation, utility bills and other needs that arise. The Fund also provides for the administration of complementary therapies for the patients, such as art therapy, yoga, massage therapy and reflexology.
Sharon Hollinden, Registered Dietician displays healthy eating tips to Germaine Shafer as Roger Newbury, Hypnotist and Bob and Linda Jones look on. On Tuesday, June 22 visitors enjoyed browsing informational exhibits and meeting the therapists representing the complementary therapy programs and services offered at The Center For Cancer Care in Torrington. Therapies represented included: Restorative Yoga with Nancy Slyman; Massage Therapy with Michael Carr; Art Therapy with Cecily Mermann; Reflexology with Theresa Carr; Support Groups with Janet Hooper, RN; Nutritional Consult with Sharon Hollinden; and Self-Hypnosis with Roger Newbury.
Complementary therapies are supportive measures that can be used along with conventional medical treatment for a whole-body approach to healing. The Center For Cancer Care Fund, Inc. supports the complementary therapy programs and services offered at The Center in Torrington. Services are available to patients residing or receiving care in northwest Connecticut. The Center For Cancer Care is an affiliation of The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and Connecticut Oncology & Hematology
Connecticut Oncology – Hematology hosted a team for the annual Relay for Life event in Falls Village Ct. on June 5th and 6th. 500 people attended and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and fine weather, raising $147,000 in jovial camaraderie.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is a 24 hour community cancer awareness event that takes place each June across the country. The community takes part in the fight against cancer by earning funds to support research as well as honors the survivors and remembers those who have lost to the disease.
The origin of the Relay for Life came about in the mid 1980’s when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma Washington, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society’s office and show support for his patients who had fought the disease. As a result, Dr. Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound and went on to raise $27,000 with the support of his family, friends and patients. One Year later the first team relay event was held.
While a major aspect of Relay for Life is the money that is raised for the American Cancer Society from circling the track, the event also becomes a community building event where people from different walks of life come together for the cause of cancer awareness. Local musicians provide music, food is donated from various local businesses, charitable organizations participate and various ceremonies are held in order to not only honor cancer survivors but also those who lost the battle to cancer.
The Butterfly affair was held June 4th and raised more than $15,000 for the patient assistance fund of the Center for Cancer Care. Good music, food and libations drew about 300 people to the lovely spring evening event.
The 18th annual Cancer Survivors Day Celebration was held on Sunday, June 6th in PSAMS Restaurant at the Eastwoods Country Club in Torrington. Over 150 cancer survivors, family members, and caregivers attended this annual event sponsored by the Center for Cancer Care Fund, INC. It featured brunch, music, and professional portrait photography.
This year's keynote speaker was University of Connecticut professor of feminist theory, national columnist, speaker and humorist Gina Barreca. She is the prolific author of the best seller “They used to call me Snow White but I drifted” among other humorous publications.
Cancer Survivors Day is coordinated by a dedicated group of volunteers from Connecticut Oncology-Hematology LLP., the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and area cancer survivors. The event has grown since 1993 from a very small ceremony to a more elaborate event including about 150-200 people. Torrington joins more than 700 communities around the world in celebrating life as part on National Cancer Survivor’s Day.
The Center for Cancer Care is an affiliation of Connecticut Oncology-Hematology LLP. And the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital offering comprehensive cancer care services including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, medical oncology, massage, art therapy, yoga reflexology, dietary guidance and other complementary services. It serves 15 towns in northwest Connecticut as well as neighboring communities in New York and Massachusetts.
The staff and volunteers at Connecticut Oncology-Hematology held a plant sale the first week of May.
The proceeds will be used to subsidize our Relay for Life Team which benefits the American Cancer Society, and our Tour of the Litchfield Hills Team which funds the Center for Cancer Care Patient Assistance Fund. The Relay will be held June26-27th and the Tour will be held August1st.
Grant Awarded for Community Education Regarding Clinical Trials
Connecticut Oncology and Hematology is proud to announce that the practice is the recipient of a grant from the Connecticut Clinical Trials Network to support a pilot program to identify strategies to increase patient participation in oncology clinical trials in the community.
Click here for more information.