Tommy Fund and Yale New Haven Health to Host Survivorship Day

NEW HAVEN, CT: May 16, 2024: The Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer will present its annual Survivorship Day event on June 9 at Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, Conn. from 12 to 3 p.m.

This free event, including a 2024 Summer Olympic theme, was created as a way to celebrate past and present patients of the Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale New Haven pediatric and hematology center and the members of the Health, Education, Research & Outcomes for Survivors (HEROS) Clinic.

As quoted on the Yale New Haven Health’s website, the HEROS of Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program “promotes the lifelong health of pediatric cancer patients after their cancer treatment has ended.” This program, celebrating its twenty-first year at the hospital, receives direct funding from the Tommy Fund, and has had the non-profit’s support since the clinic’s inception.

Survivorship Day is just one example of the commitment the HEROS program has to encourage patient’s all encompassing care, even after their cancer treatment is completed. The HEROS clinic is made up of a “multidisciplinary team” as stated by Yale New Haven Health, including a pediatric oncologist, nurse practitioner, psychologist, registered dietician, and nurse educator, all “committed to caring for each patient as a whole person and empowering survivors to live their best life after cancer.”

“It [Survivorship Day] is a beautiful day outside of the walls of the hospital, where patients, families and clinicians come together to celebrate the strength of all childhood cancer survivors,” says Rebecca M Santoli, Executive Director of the Tommy Fund. “The Tommy Fund is excited to bring our event back to Floyd Little Athletic Center for another year.”

Last year, Survivorship Day held over 400 people in attendance including active patients, survivors and their families for a fun filled educational day. The Tommy Fund and HEROS clinic anticipate more familiar faces to attend this June.

The Tommy Fund invites all area organizations that support those impacted by childhood cancer to participate and share their educational resources with the community. Attending the event this year include Camp Rising Sun, Circle of Care, Closer to Free Ride, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Connecticut, Smiles for Smilow, Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer, Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and Yale HEROS Clinic.

The afternoon will include activities presented by the Tommy Fund, including an inflatable obstacle course, mini golf, basketball shootout alongside the care team and more. Guests will enjoy lunch from Inferno Pizza Truck, sponsored by Yale New Haven Children's Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital, and Fryborg, sponsored by the Tommy Fund.

To register for this event, visit the official ticket page: https://cbo.io/tickets/purchas...

For more information about Survivorship Day or the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer, please email director@tommyfund.org.

Since 1953, the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer has provided HELP & HOPE to families whose children are undergoing treatments at the Tommy Fund Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Center, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital.