The Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care

On Saturday, Oct. 7, the rain couldn’t hold back the Central Maine community as they gathered around their cancer survivors, fighters, thrivers and loved ones for an uplifting, inspirational Day of Hope. More than 1,000 community members came out to rally around MaineGeneral’s Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care (HACCC) staff and patients, showing them no one fights alone.

Along with an emotional opening ceremony, Day of Hope attendees participated in education and prevention, including receiving screenings and therapies as well as a Food Pavilion with live cooking demonstrations. The fundraiser part of the program, a 1.8 mile-walk through the beautiful University of Maine at Augusta campus, raised more than $200,000 in support of the HACCC. Another key feature of the Day of Hope is the Survivor Space, where survivors, fighters and thrivers connect and share stories and memories with others who are going through a similar journey.

This was Jenn Kelly’s second year as the lead volunteer coordinator of the Survivor Space. It was an emotional part of her own journey to play such an important role in the Day of Hope.

In 2004, both of Kelly’s parents were diagnosed with cancer. And then, just five years ago, she also became a patient when she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Even now, she says she has a hard time using the term “survivor” for herself.

“I was reluctant after finishing treatment to be called a survivor,” Kelly said. “I didn’t know what I was.” That’s why it was important for her that the Survivor Space gives everyone on their cancer journey a way to be recognized.

“Whether you’re recently diagnosed, are in the middle of treatment or have finished, everyone is coming from a different place. It’s a very emotional space,” she said.

Each person coming into the Survivor Space receives a sash to wear throughout the day. Sashes have different names on them: survivor, thriver or fighter.

“The choice depends on how you see yourself,” Kelly said. “Each person gets to decorate and personalize their own sash.” Kelly emphasized that all cancer patients and survivors are welcome in the Survivor Space, just as with the entire day of events.

Last year, she was struck by a gentleman who came into the Survivor Space. He seemed not to know what to make of the area. When she asked him where he was in his journey, he said he hadn’t yet had a referral with an oncologist. Kelly quickly found a HACCC staff member to help him.

“This year, he came by and asked me if I was the woman who helped him,” she said. “He let me know that moment changed the direction of his life. That was a special moment for me to be able to help someone in that moment.”

Kelly added enthusiastically: “Once you enter that Survivor Space, you become a lifer. It’s so amazing. Sometimes there’s tears and sometimes there’s no words that need to be spoken. Those who are in the space have an understanding. Sometimes an embrace is all that is needed.

“We want everyone entering the space – survivors and their families – to know they are valued. We listen to everyone’s stories. We share a connection. We all have seen cancer in some form.”

Join Jenn Kelly and the rest of the Day of Hope volunteers and cancer center staff next year, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024!