Friends Together will host its annual cancer survivor reception Saturday Aug. 23 in the Alpena Fair Grounds merchant building. The event, which begins shortly after the Relay for Life victory lap, celebrates and centers on laughter being the best medicine.
"This is the event to get together with people that have cancer and share together," said Coordinator Diane Barsen.
Barsen said comedian Mark Knope will entertain guests at this year's dinner. The format of the reception changed last year as Barsen tried to figure out how to make guests feel uplifted while they attended the reception. Barsen said the answer was to bring a comedian in and the response was wonderful.
"You just heard it over and over about how good it felt to laugh," Barsen said. "Because people don't want to necessarily dwell on what's going on, they want something that can move them to that point where they can forget for a little while too." she said.
Judy Burns, Friends Together founder, said the event already has 100 RSVPs and is expecting more.
"For now, that's a good number," she said.
Last year about 280 survivors attended the reception, including family and friends. Each survivor is given two tickets. After the two tickets are used, there is a $3 ticket price for friends and family. Both women said all survivors, family and friends are welcome.
The event also is sponsored by Pizza Hut and the Alpena Cancer Center.
"We get tremendous help from both of those organizations for different projects that we do," Barsen said.
Burns said Friends Together helps local people deal with cancer. It was started from a promise that no one would experience cancer alone and evolved from a monthly meeting into the support group it is now, providing support weekly.
Burns said Friends Together has worked with Relay for Life for the last 12 years.
"It's just natural that we're partnered with the relay because the relay for life, one of its focuses is to find a cure. Friends Together's focus is to provide comfort and care until there is a cure," she said.
For more information on the event, Friends Together or to register for the cancer survivor reception dinner, contact Barsen or Burns at 356-3231.
Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.