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Cancer survivors have a place to share, connect and heal
Longstreet Clinic's Harvest of Hope unites families bound by common battle
0911HOPE
Shades of Pink, an Atlanta-based mass choir of breast cancer survivors performs during the annual Harvest of Hope at First Baptist Church. - photo by For The Times

Harvest of Hope

What: An event for individuals and families who have been touched by cancer

When: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 18

Where: Banquet Hall, First Baptist Church, 751 Green St., Gainesville

How much: No charge to attend but registration is requested.

More info: Please contact the Longstreet Cancer Center at 770-297-5700

Surviving cancer is nothing to be modest about. In fact, sharing the hope of survival can spread faster than cancer ever could.

Harvest of Hope, presented by The Longstreet Clinic, is an annual event for families and individuals who have been touched by cancer in some way.

The free community event will be a day that people can come together for support, share hope and receive information.

Group yoga, discussions on survivorship and a dietitian with tips on healthy living are a few of the highlights being offered at this year's event.

Danielle Beverly, a three time cancer survivor and wife of former Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons football player Eric Beverly, will be the keynote speaker.

Following Beverly will be a performance from Shades of Pink, an Atlanta-based mass choir of breast cancer survivors.

"This organization was founded because I felt that breast cancer survivors needed a place to ‘Celebrate their Survival,' not hide it and I believe that we are doing just that, and we will continue to do so," said choir founder Nichole Hancock on the choir's website.

Lunch in the banquet hall will close out the day.

Dr. Anup Lahiry, a veteran oncologist at Longstreet Clinic, created the Harvest of Hope nine years ago and said that he wants the event to bring hope to cancer survivors and patients.

"If you don't have hope there's no sense in doing anything, hope is what keeps us going," he said. "Seeing other patients living gives hope to other patients, they need to see other survivors. As an oncologist I know about cancer but only cancer patients understands being given the diagnosis of cancer."