Around 150 cancer survivors, guests and volunteers gathered together at the Hickory VFW in Hermitage, Pennsylvania on October 26th for the annual Dr. Edgardo Lob Memorial Cancer Care Fund Survivor’s Luncheon. Hosted by the UPMC Horizon Community Health Foundation, the luncheon brought survivors together for an afternoon of celebration, fellowship and encouragement provided by the Fund, one of the Foundation’s community health initiatives.
Survivors were treated to live entertainment by Jack Lindey as well as the Greenville High School Steel Drum Band. In addition to lunch and the opportunity to connect with fellow survivors, participants had the opportunity to meet with therapy dogs from UPMC Horizon’s Volunteer Services team, get nutritional advice from a dietitian from UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers, learn about services provided by Maple Tree Cancer Alliance and participate in activities hosted by representatives from Eli Lilly. Adventurous participants had the opportunity to use a 360-degree photo booth to make fun memories from the afternoon.
The keynote speaker for the event was Rita Abdullah, a motivational speaker with decades of experience working with cancer survivors and others pursuing better health. Rita’s message encouraged survivors to choose “joy” in their daily lives, finding opportunities to focus on positive emotions even during difficult times. Participants were encouraged to share the names of people and things that bring them joy on sticky notes that were put on boards that will travel between UPMC Horizon’s three Hillman Cancer centers.
The event was made possible through the tireless efforts of committee members and volunteers supporting the Dr. Lob Fund, who dedicated their time and energy to plan, prepare and serve at the event and care for the survivors who attended. The Dr. Lob Fund was originally established in 1999 to provide care, comfort and support for cancer patients and their loved ones, and has since been renamed in memory of Dr. Lob, a beloved longtime hematologist in Greenville, Pennsylvania.
