On Sunday, June 6, people from coast to coast, and globally, will celebrate the 34th annual National Cancer Survivors Day, with the goal of promoting more resources, research, and legislation to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life. It has been a tradition for York Hospital to share this celebration of life with survivors, their friends and families, oncology providers, staff and other caregivers at annual gatherings of 100 or more.
However, in 2021, as it did in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic will change how we commemorate NCSD. It will NOT deter us from celebrating cancer survivors and raising awareness of the challenges of cancer survivorship. We can connect with others around the world on Sunday, June 6 by using the hashtag #NCSD2021 and following National Cancer Survivors Day® on Facebook (Facebook.com/CancerSurvivorsDay), Instagram (@cancersurvivorsday), and Twitter (@survivorsday). We can still celebrate within our hearts and minds and with closest family and friends —visit the NCSD.org website for socially distanced and virtual celebration ideas and tips!
During the week leading up to June 6, one way that York Hospital has been celebrating our own community of survivors is by sharing colorful bags filled with fun treats, healthy goodies, and hopefully some smiles and laughter. We are proud to shine a light on the strength and resilience of our cancer survivors and the caregivers and loved ones who stand beside them during both the highs and the lows of their unique and challenging journeys. The images above, left to right, show the goodie bags put together by York Hospital oncology social worker Susan Kelly-Westman and the YH oncology team to distribute to York Hospital cancer survivors in celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day 2021; Oncology nurse Cindy Butler and cancer survivor Leila Leland; YH PSR Kim Robertson with cancer survivor and YH volunteer Rosemary LeBlanc-Considine; and cancer survivor David Bartlett.