BRUNCH WITH TWO-HUNDRED FRIENDS

This morning over 200 people gathered together in the parking lot of Providence Medford Medical Center for brunch. I personally knew about 50 of them. Not only were they cancer survivors, but most of them were cancer survivors who have been treated with radiation therapy where I work.

The theme for our Cancer Survivor's Brunch this year was "Active Survivorship" and many of our survivors demonstrated their talents: painting, photography, horsemanship, music and physical fitness.

Our main speaker was Dr. Dean Shrock, who authored the book, Doctor's Orders: Go Fishing.

I was asked to be the emcee. My role included welcoming all of our guests, introducing the band and the main speaker, and giving out gifts to those who held the proper raffle ticket numbers.

I also got the crowd to sing a song together, in rounds, to the tune of "Frere Jacques":

We hate cancer
We hate cancer
We fight back
We fight back
Give us radiation
Give us radiation
Zap, zap, zap
Zap, zap, zap

About an hour before the event started, the parking lot was set up to accomodate the guests.

The welcomer, introducer, giver of announcements, and raffle-ticket-number reader.

The lyrics, although held up in reverse order, helped the singing guests to sing along with our little tune.

Anika, sitting beside her mother, sways to the music performed by the band.