WEST SPRINGFIELD-The Green at Storrowton Village on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition will be aglow with luminaria bags on Nov. 17 as the fall fundraiser for the CHD Cancer House of Hope, A Night of Light, moves to a new location.
The annual event, previously conducted at the Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center in Westfield, will feature hundreds of luminaria bags lit and placed on the Green to honor and remember those we have lost to cancer and those who are survivors.
Dennis Picard, director of the Storrowton Village Museum, and Joe Kane, program director, CHD Cancer House of Hope, discuss logistics for A Night of Light slated Nov. 17.
Instrumental and choral music will be featured during the 6 to 8 p.m. fundraiser which will also include welcoming remarks by Kim Lee, vice president of development and marketing, Center for Human Development (CHD), and Joe Kane, program director, Cancer House of Hope. Also, Storrowton Tavern staff will serve complimentary hot chocolate.
Each Luminaria is hand-scribed with the name of someone who has or has had cancer. At dusk, the bags are lit and remain lit for the evening, as music of hope, performed by local musicians, fills the night.
“A luminary is a leading light, an inspiration to others,” said Lee. “It takes just one candle to light the darkness; one candle to light another until there are hundreds of lights of hope in the night.”
Luminary bags are $5 each and can be ordered by visiting The Press Room at 62 School St., Westfield, at the headquarters of the Westfield News Group. A special insert with more details will also be distributed inside the newspaper during the week of Oct. 17, according to Kane.
“The Cancer House of Hope offers unique comfort services that include Reiki, massage, and yoga,” said Kane. “Our evidence-based treatments are provided in a home-like environment which is a benefit to those seeking services.”
Lee echoed those sentiments.
“The comfort and care we provide in our home-like setting sets us apart from others,” said Lee. “It’s also clear that the integrative therapies we offer are becoming more appreciated in mainstream cancer treatment.”
Kane noted that cancer treatment cancers including Dana Farber now offer similar services in Boston.
“We want to do more for those here in Western Massachusetts,” added Lee.
Kane said all proceeds raised from A Night of Light help the Cancer House of Hope at 1999 Westfield St. (Route 20) continue its mission of offering comfort and care at no cost to those affected by cancer, their caregivers and their families.
“We are also starting a free cancer education series on Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. with Dr. Philip Glynn of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center,” said Kane, adding Glynn will be addressing immunotherapy – an emerging method of cancer treatment that alters a patient’s own immune cells to attack cancer.
The ongoing education series is open to the public and will be presented by the Caritas Cancer Center. Registration is requested by calling (413) 733-1858.
Kane also noted that the Cancer House of Hope has restarted its breast cancer support group and offers a variety of services that provide emotional, educational, social and spiritual support, including a Wig Boutique which includes more than 250 wigs in its inventory.
“We have volunteers who are also at the house to greet people and most of our volunteers have had a cancer experience in their life,” said Kane.
In addition to the Westfield News Group, sponsors include Liberty Mutual Insurance, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP, Westfield Bank, Bearingstar Insurance, Comcast, Mestek, Inc., Thomas Wilson Enterprises, Inc., Farmington Bank, the Cunningham Foundation, Eastern States Exposition, A&A Packaging, The Republican, Healthcare News, and Storrowton Tavern.
Kane noted that each year, the Cancer House of Hope serves 350 to 400 members.
“Every penny of every dollar donated to the House directly impacts programming and the people served,” said Kane.
Area residents interested in dedicating a Luminaria bag can also visit www.CHD.org/Luminaria for more details. Businesses interested in sponsoring A Night of Light or selling luminary bags can contact Kane at (413) 733-1858 or via email to [email protected].
