A celebration for those who have been touched by cancer

Sunday, June 7 -- 8am to 3pm
Harvard Medical School Quadrangle
200 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA
(Note: See Hester's comment below about pre-registering!)

Celebration of Life is a full day of celebration, education, and kinship for the cancer community. The event raises awareness of the battle against cancer, and welcomes all men and women who have been touched by this class of diseases. We've been doing this for sixteen years.

Celebration of Life brings together patients and their friends and family members, along with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other cancer care providers at BIDMC. It is designed to give people living with cancer an opportunity to share personal experiences, information about new treatments and support systems, and to learn from Harvard Medical School physicians and community experts—and, of course, each other.

The event is the brainchild of Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW, BCD, Chief of Oncology Social Work at BIDMC, and a breast cancer survivor. She notes, "Celebration of Life puts a face on cancer, while providing hope to all that fight it."

Celebration of Life is held on National Cancer Survivors Day—an annual, worldwide day of symbolic unity for cancer survivors, their loved ones, and cancer care providers. This year, there will be more than two dozen symposia and workshops led by BIDMC faculty and staff and other community experts. There will be an extended lunchtime discussion with cancer survivors hosted by Kelley Tuthill, WCVB-TV reporter and breast cancer survivor, lively music, art, and opportunities for participants to share their personal stories.

Finally, there are fundraising events, with auction items including a basketball signed by all of the Boston Celtics (!), plus also items from the Bruins and the Red Sox.