OUR COMMUNITY LOCAL FOCUS HIGHLIGHTS AREA NEWS, EVENTS

Champions of Hope, an uplifting recognition ceremony honoring four remarkable individuals for their achievements in the battle against cancer, takes place on Aug. 27 at the Steam Plant in downtown Dayton.

Selected by a volunteer committee composed of community volunteers and area clinicians in conjunction with the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, the honorees include:

■ Person of Inspiration - Gail Moddeman, PhD, RN - A longtime Miami Valley Hospital (MVH) clinical nurse and cancer survivor, Gail is an educator, researcher and a professor emeritus of nursing at

Wright State University.

■ Caregiver – Denise Nichols, MSW, LISW-S – An oncology social worker who has cared for MVH patients for 17 years, Denise is also a longtime community volunteer and published short story author.

■ Survivor – Pat Meadows, MSSW – A 25-year cancer survivor, Pat is a respected community advocate, speaker and volunteer who completed 21 years as director of social services at MVH, and then served as executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton.

■ Medical Professional – Ania Pollack, MD, FACS, FAANS – Instrumental in establishing several innovations in the MVH Neuro Oncology program, Dr. Pollack is noted for providing compassionate and state-of-the-art care for her patients at the bedside and in the operating room.

Reserved seating is available at $100 per person. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the event will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages, with the formal presentation starting at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony takes place at the Steam Plant, 617 East Third Street in downtown Dayton. The honorees will be introduced through video profiles followed by an award presentation. Please note: Due to the evolving nature of safety guidelines for COVID-19, there may be some adjustments to the event’s usual format.

On display at the event, a beautiful tribute bouquet serves as an opportunity for donors to honor their personal champions in the fight against cancer. Bouquet donations of $25 (or more) in honor or in memory of a friend, loved one or colleague, will serve as a meaningful symbol of recognition or remembrance that evening.

Proceeds will enhance and expand integrative therapies for oncology patients, including specialized exercises, yoga, massage, water exercises and therapeutic art. Proceeds also support a snack cart for infusion patients, and a discretionary fund for patients with unanticipated expenses associated with their treatment.

For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dennis Percy, director of Development with the MVH Foundation, 937-208-2700, or visit the Foundation’s website at www.mvhfoundation.org. SUBMITTED