Fort Wayne, Ind. – Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 — Parkview’s Comprehensive Cancer Center today presented the fourth-annual 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:
Kristina Alderdice
Kristina Alderdice is a breast cancer survivor and an advocate for women facing breast cancer. Kristina leads a not-for-profit organization, “Hope in a Handbag,” that reaches hospitals and cancer centers in a 13-county area. Through her work, women facing a mastectomy receive a tote bag with items to help them in the hospital and when they return home from surgery. Her organization impacts the lives of 500 women a year. Kristina encourages women to do self breast exams and is a supporter of breast cancer research. She continues to share her story and is an encouragement to those in need of support during difficult health challenges.
Shannon Armstrong Carpenter
Shannon Carpenter of Angola serves as the chairperson for the Relay for Life of Steuben County and is described as a kind, generous, loving, and charitable person. Shannon has led several efforts to raise thousands of dollars in the fight against cancer. Her work led to the creation of the Anderson University Relay for Life, as well as the Colleges Against Cancer Club at Anderson. Shannon also has a personal cancer story. She was by her husband’s 
side through a recent battle with cancer. He is now cancer free and doing well. Shannon is an innovator and is committed to finding grants and sponsorships in support of cancer patients.
The winners received original artwork – a three dimensional piece of hanging stained glass artwork – created by Parkview employee Beverly Hullinger. Photos of the winners will be displayed at the cancer center for a year and then mounted in a special scrapbook in the facility’s Cancer Resource Library.
The awards were presented by Rae Gonterman, RN, MSN, NE-BC, senior vice president, Parkview Health Cancer Service Line and Dr. Alan Yahanda, Cancer Liaison Physician and Parkview Physician Executive-Cancer Service Line.