Community members, lung cancer survivors, patients and their families used glow sticks with personal messages to fill a giant awareness ribbon at Long Beach Memorial’s “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” awareness event to kick off National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
It was an emotional and inspiring evening on Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Todd Cancer Pavilion at Long Beach Memorial as the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute kicked off Lung Cancer Awareness month by hosting its 5th Annual “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” awareness event.
The “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” awareness event is the largest national and international coordinated awareness gathering for lung cancer – uniting cities across the nation. Long Beach was one of only seven cities in California to host the event which is held to give a voice for the millions of people impacted by lung cancer.
“The goals of the “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer” event were to bring awareness to this disease, to reduce the stigma and to instill a sense of hope,” says Cindy Gotz, manager community benefit and co-manager, Women Guiding Women: Cancer Support and Education, Todd Cancer Institute. “The statistics are startling, 80 percent of newly diagnosed lung cancers are in former or never smokers. The anti-smoking message was received and it would be ideal to respond to those living with lung cancer in a more supportive manner.”
At the start of the evening, guests and survivors were welcomed to sign message cards attached to glow sticks in honor of loved ones lost or in support of those still fighting lung cancer.
Throughout the event, Long Beach Memorial physicians, Nilesh Vora, M.D., medical director, Palliative Care, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute; Mariusz Wirga, M.D., medical director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute; and Robert A. Nagourney, M.D., oncologist, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute and medical and laboratory director, Rational Therapeutics, spoke about the impact of lung cancer, how we as a community need to reduce the stigma and the value of hope through the cancer journey.
An inspiring moment in the event came when David Hanbidge, now cancer free for 14 years, shared his journey on how he overcame the odds to beat small cell lung cancer.
“I am honored to be a part of this event and proud to be alive today to tell my story,” says David. “I can’t thank Dr. Nagourney, and Long Beach Memorial, enough because I wouldn’t be alive today without their recommendations, care and knowledge.”
The vigil came to a close with a lighting ceremony of two ribbons. The first ribbon was a 10 foot tall white lung cancer ribbon projected in the front of the Todd Cancer Pavilion for the entire month of Nov. The second ribbon involved community members, lung cancer survivors, patients and their families “lighting up” their own lung cancer awareness ribbon by placing glow sticks in vases to “shine the light” so desperately needed on this disease.
Above, left: A young boy writes his own personal message to a family member who has been affected by lung cancer to be placed around the lung cancer ribbon.
Above, right: In honor of all those still fighting lung cancer, survivors or in rememberence of loved ones, attendees lit up a giant ribbon formation with glow sticks with personal messages attached.
(Left to Right) Key speakers at the event included: Nilesh Vora, M.D., medical director, Oncology Palliative Care, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute; Katy Hyman, senior chaplain and decedent affairs coordinator; Mariusz Wirga, M.D., medical director, Psychosocial Oncology Program, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute; Robert A. Nagourney, M.D., oncologist, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute and medical and laboratory director, Rational Therapeutics; and David Hanbidge, lung cancer survivor.
Both ribbons were lit up to end the event and to kick off National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.