Fort Wayne, Ind. – Wednesday, April 22, 2009 — Parkview’s Comprehensive Cancer Center today presented the first-ever Cancer Care Awards to honor the dedication, determination, innovation, sacrifices, and courage of those whose efforts improve the quality of life for people who have cancer.
Cancer Care Award winners:
Columbia City High School Lady Eagles Soccer Team
The team showed tremendous community pride and a caring attitude by organizing a series of fundraisers that resulted in $6,500 going toward an area mammogram program. The team coordinated their public outreach as part of Columbia City High School’s 15th season of soccer.
Kathy Schaffer
Kathy Schaffer of New Haven is a breast cancer survivor and leader of the Lymphedema Support Group, as well as the Conquering Breast Cancer Support Group, which is sponsored by the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center and Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. Kathy has shown love and passion for those in need of encouragement and support. She also serves as a registered nurse case manager for Parkview.
“So many people are doing great things in the cancer field,” said Dr. Alan Yahanda, Indiana Surgical Specialists and cancer liaison physician for the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Cancer Committee. “Prior to today, many of them have done so with little or no recognition. This important award spotlights their efforts, and we hope will also inspire others to get involved.”
The winners received custom artwork from local artist Gary Travis commissioned specifically for the award program, as well as recognition on a plaque in a display at the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center. Parkview plans to make the Cancer Care Award an annual event. The winners were chosen by a committee from among nominations received. The decision reached by the committee was difficult, because there were several nomination stories about people that are making a positive difference in the community.