Limelight

Cancer Survivors Conquer Another Battle

Straining muscles, pumping hearts and beads of perspiration. Nobody said scaling up a hill would be an easy task and neither is the battle against cancer. Hence, the Hill of Hope event held on 6 Oct 2007, participated by some 70 cancer survivors in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), served as a symbolic reminder of their challenges and how they can overcome them. These survivors were among the 220 participants who made it to the top of Mount Faber on foot. The trek was about 1.2km. Participants included family members and the multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals from the National Cancer Centre Singapore. They ranged from 7 to 77 years old.

An early drizzle threatened to dampen the event but spirits were high and everyone stood their ground. Eventually the sun peeped from behind the dark clouds to ward off the rain.

A warm-up exercise led by NCC’s Health Educator Bob Koh kicked started the evening’s event. To flag off the climb was Mrs Karen Koh, Deputy CEO of SingHealth, who enthusiastically trudged up the slopes together with the participants.

The trek uphill proved to be an enjoyable experience. Along the way, participants lit up the track with glow sticks which were meant to symbolize light in the midst of darkness. To add to the evening’s excitement, while making their way up Mount Faber, the participants had to look for clues from words that were essential ‘ingredients’ in overcoming the odds against cancer.

Once at the top, a sumptuous buffet awaited them at The Jewel Box amidst more fun and entertainment. There were performances by Arts For Health volunteers, students from Lasalle College of the Arts and members of the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra.

For the finale, participants came together with placards illuminated with colorful glow sticks to form the phrase “NCCS VS CANCER”. The rain finally came to close the evening’s event but the joyous and boisterous spirits remained high on the Hill Of Hope.