Daffodils inspire hope for cancer survivors
MODESTO – March 10, 2009 – A mass of 4,000 blooming daffodils at Pamela Monterosso Park has attracted the interest of local residents and inspired hope in our community’s cancer survivors. It’s called the Hope Blooms Garden, and it was dedicated on February 21, 2009 to remember and honor cancer survivors and bring beauty and joy to everyone who visits the park.
The daffodils, along with 75 trees, were planted at the Park and along the trail leading into East La Loma Park by the Hope Blooms Garden Club, an element of Memorial Medical Center’s Complementary Therapy program for cancer survivors and their caregivers and supporters. In addition to members of the Garden Club, the planting group featured other local residents whose lives have been touched by cancer, including Memorial employees and community volunteers who belong to the Pack 14 Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts, their families and leaders.
The location of the Hope Blooms Garden is significant because it serves as the trailhead to the Peggy Mensinger Trail, where cancer survivors who are members of Memorial’s Triumph Fitness Program walk and cycle together, gaining strength and endurance in a group where they also find encouragement, camaraderie and hope. Understanding that cancer care continues after treatment is over, the Hope Blooms Garden Club is one more way that Memorial is supporting local cancer survivors.
The Hope Blooms Garden Club is sponsored by Memorial Hospital Foundation. The club’s community partners include Jim and Donna Rogers of Scenic Nursery and the Shadow Chase Running Club, who have sponsored the drinking fountain in the Hope Blooms Garden. The Garden Club will continue to care for this garden, and members look forward to additional plantings.
Memorial is part of Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals, physician organizations and other medical services that share resources and expertise to advance health care quality and access. Serving more than 100 communities in Northern California, Sutter Health is a regional leader in cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, obstetrics, and newborn intensive care, and is a pioneer in advanced patient safety technology.
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