On Thursday, June 5, the Abben Cancer Center in Spencer will be hosting their forth annual cancer survivor's day celebration "Seed of Hope". We will be joining hundreds of communities worldwide in celebrating life as part of the National Cancer Survivor's Day. National Cancer Survivor's Day events are filled with joy, camaraderie, hope, compassion, faith and love. Cancer survivors are honored for their strength and courage. The contributions of their families, friends and healthcare providers are also recognized.

The activities are as diversified as the towns and cities where the events are held. Surviving cancer is an attitude about life and living each day to the fullest. National Cancer Survivor's Day helps call attention to the issues of caner survivorship and will be commenced with the written greetings from President George W. Bush and the director of the National Cancer Institute.

A "survivor" is anyone living with a history of cancer-from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life. The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation reports that there are an estimated 12 million cancer survivors in the United States. The Foundation is encouraging everyone to participate in their community's events.

Join the staff at the Abben Cancer Center at 6:30 p.m. in the Spencer Hospital's Grand Avenue Park. We will have music performed by Laura Carlentini, Ryan Sather and Jack Ryan as you stroll through the gardens. There will be a short program with a dedication of the park benches in the meditation garden to honor all cancer survivors around 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Cancer survivors at the event may register to win a quilt entitled "Aunt Dee Dee's Garden Quilt -- Where Seeds of Hope are Sown". Our 4th annual Caner Survivor's Day quilt comes from a pattern designed by Julie Larson for Prairie Star Quilts. It was machine pieced by Mary O'Brien and Brownie Small, both nurses at the Abben Cancer Center and quilted by Sheila Currans in Spencer. It features twelve island gardens surrounded by a sea of delicate cream colored flowers. Constructed in the medallion style, this quilt is sure to bring warmth and comfort to its new owner.

* For more information, please contact (712)264-6550.