Exeter Hospital's "Kites Against Cancer Month" a Success

Exeter Hospital's "Kites Against Cancer Month" a Success

  
 

Exeter Hospital’s ‘Kites Against Cancer Month’ a success
Posted Jun 27, 2019 at 9:53 AM
Updated Jun 27, 2019 at 9:53 AM
 
EXETER -- Exeter Hospital’s Kites Against Cancer Month was a series of events to honor and remember patients and community members affected by cancer, as well as to raise money for The Beyond the Rainbow Fund, which benefits local cancer patients in need.
 
The primary fundraising event, the third annual Caring Hands event, celebrated the impact of donors and community partners. A total of $10,000 was raised for The Beyond the Rainbow Fund, which helps patients in need with expenses such as assistance with rent and fuel payments, groceries, support devices such as canes, walkers and wigs, transportation, or any other practical needs that can become unmanageable for patients and their families during treatment.
 
On Sunday, May 19, Kites on the Beach drew patients and community members from all over the state and even as far as Pennsylvania and Montreal to fill the sky with kites at Hampton Beach in honor or memory of loved ones and friends affected by cancer. This is the eleventh annual kite flying event, which has now grown into a month of diverse celebrations.
 
The signature event this year was the Cancer Survivors Block Party on June 4 (during Cancer Survivors’ Week) at Exeter Hospital. Cancer survivors and their families and friends, along with staff and community members, came together for food, live music by Velvis Underground (featuring two Center for Cancer Care providers) and a song by cancer survivor Sammie Moore, raffles, face painting, a photo booth and more. The Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, whose leading radiation and medical oncologists provide care for patients at Exeter Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care, brought their Everyday Amazing Mobile to join the event.
 
“Kites Against Cancer Month was created to give our community a variety of ways to come together to honor and remember their family and friends who are affected by cancer,” said Eileen McDonald, director of The Center for Cancer Care. “Fundraising is important, but so is giving our patients and our staff and the community some opportunities to celebrate life as well as have special moments of remembrance. We look forward to growing this month of celebration next year.”
 
Sponsors of Kites Against Cancer Month included Bank of New Hampshire, Everyday Details Professional Event Planning, New Day Solutions, Transformative Healthcare and Sodexo. For additional information about supporting the Beyond the Rainbow Fund and Exeter Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care, visit unitedinwellness.org.