In an effort to raise awareness of cancer in all its forms and educate the public about the importance of early detection and prevention, Monmouth Medical Center launched Roll Out The Ribbons, a unique awareness campaign designed to strengthen the fight against cancer and honor courageous individuals who have and are fighting the battle.
During the kick-off event on the Great Lawn Pavilion in Long Branch, hospital officials gathered with public officials, community and business leaders and cancer survivors to tie the first multi-colored ribbons of honor along the "Promenade of Hope" on the city's boardwalk.
A focal point of Roll Out The Ribbons, the Promenade of Hope - a half-mile stretch of railing along the boardwalk in Long Branch that begins near Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant and ends just south of Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park - enables residents from local communities to tie multi-colored ribbons along the rail with messages of hope and healing to symbolize a united front in the fight against cancer.
"We all know that there is strength in numbers and one unified voice speaks louder and more clearly than many different ones," says Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS, president and chief executive officer of Monmouth Medical Center. "The Roll Out The Ribbons campaign is designed to do just that -bring together surrounding communities for a strong fight against a single enemy that takes on many forms -cancer."
Roll Out The Ribbons' "Ribbon of Honor" was designed to represent all types of cancer, as symbolized by its color: lavender, the official color of awareness of all cancers. The colored stripes represent the 12 most common types of cancer: thyroid, prostate, pancreatic, bladder, breast, colorectal, endometrial, kidney, leukemia, lung, melanoma and lymphoma.
"Through Roll Out The Ribbons, we are striving to educate the community about the risk factors associated with cancer and preventive approaches to the disease, and help those affected cope with the challenges ahead," says David Sharon, M.D., a medical oncologist and medical director of the Leon Hess Cancer Center at Monmouth. "As the regional leader in Cancer Services, it's important for Monmouth Medical Center to lead the charge in raising awareness of cancer in our communities and supporting all those who have been touched by this disease."
The official public kick-off will be held during Oceanfest, Long Branch's major annual beachfront event, on July 4, where tents will be set up along the promenade providing information, ribbons and giveaways to community members in attendance.
In photo above, from left, David Sharon, M.D., Medical Director, Leon Hess Cancer Center at Monmouth is joined at the Promenade of Hope by, from left left, Bill Arnold, Chief Operating Officer, Heather Grossman, M.D., Section Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the Children's Hospital at Monmouth; Frank J. Vozos, M.D., FACS, President & Chief Operating Officer; and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider.
