Sep. 4--BRANFORD -- Connecticut Hospice is inviting the public to join local and Hospice officials and others on the facility's front lawn at noon Friday to demonstrate their solidarity in the desire to find a cure for cancer.
The local event is part of a national "Stand Up To Cancer" event that will feature all three major broadcast TV networks donating one hour of simultaneous, commercial-free primetime broadcast, with the goal to end cancer's status as a leading cause of death.
The broadcast will begin at 8 p.m.
"With a belief in the power of collective thought and action, we are inviting the public to come and stand on our lawn at noon on Friday, to silently acknowledge their solidarity in eradicating this disease," said Kaye Williams, co-chairman of the Hospice Board of Directors.
"We at Hospice live with the reality of cancer each and every day," said Linda Laucella, Hospice's manager of development and special events.
"We know all too well what cancer does to people and their loved ones. We are united in our stand and support research for ending this horrific disease. While our hope is that one day there will not be a need for Hospice, until that time, we are here to help patients and families attain optimum quality of life."
As part of the noon event, religious leaders will give their blessings to help remember those who have suffered a loss, as well as those now in crises.
"We're just looking for the public to join us as we stand up to cancer on our lawn here," said Laucella.
The event will feature music by Jesse Hammond, staff artists doing painting and calligraphy workshops and Hospice volunteer and poet Bob Jacobs reading his works.
For more information on the national Stand Up To Cancer event, visit www.standuptocancer.com.
The Branford-based Connecticut Hospice is the birthplace of the hospice movement in America and the first palliative hospital in the United States serving anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. To see more of New Haven Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nhregister.com. Copyright (c) 2008, New Haven Register, Conn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 New Haven Register, Conn.