Volleyball players from Temple Christian and Perry High School donate to Lima Memorial for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Lima Memorial Health System gathered women from all walks of life. Breast cancer survivors and those recently diagnosed communed for a meal Thursday afternoon.
“It is our 27th annual Hope Garden,” Lima Memorial Health System Physician Dr. Darlene Weyer said. “The reason we do it is to bring breast cancer patients (and their families and friends) together once a year where they can share stories of their journeys — our patients that we just recently diagnosed, look at patients that have been 10, 15, or even 20 years out, surviving and doing well. It gives them hope to continue.”
One breast cancer survivor shared her story and how she hopes to help others.
“From day one when they told me I had cancer I became a big supporter (of breast cancer awareness),” Marcia Hattery said. “I had a friend who was diagnosed and I answered her questions — I will stand in the gap if people need someone to go to their appointments or just to talk to because everyone needs that.”
Hattery said she has now survived cancer for seven years. She shared why she enjoyed events like the Hope Garden Celebration.
“You get to share your stories and get to know how other people deal (with it),” Hattery said. “You can learn from one another — the old saying says I was a cancer patient; now I’m a cancer survivor. God would not bring us to anything He could not take us through.”
Two local volleyball teams joined the lunch to celebrate hope. Temple Christian and Perry High School raised money for Lima Memorial’s patients.
“The two volleyball teams that have raised money will donate a check,” Weyer said. “The money will be used for patients who have no insurance to be able to afford mammograms. We do not want anyone to not get a mammogram because of the cost.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
