(9/06/12) – An Evening of Hope Cancer Benefit will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at the Florence Little Theatre. This year’s event is a musical and comedy revue where performers pay tribute to loved ones touched by cancer. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the new McLeod Cancer Center which will open in 2013. A special thank you to our Marquee Sponsor, Wells Fargo.

McLeod Oncologist Dr. Michael Pavy will open An Evening of Hope, the McLeod Health Foundation’s 13th Annual Cancer Benefit. His remarks will be followed by talented performers and regional artists who will entertain the audience with live performances. Local craftsmen and artisans are also donating their works of art for the silent auction. Objects for sale have been created by cancer survivors or donated in honor or memory of an individual diagnosed with cancer.

Performers for the evening will include: National Recording Artist Alicia Williamson-Garcia, a Florence native and Cancer Survivor; Jonathan Kammer on saxophone; Singers Saviah Miller and R.J. Lee; Dual piano performances and music by Mary Louise Hill, Diane Perry, and Anna Perry; The Men of the Lake City Community Theatre accompanied by Robin Thompson on piano and Cliff Gardner on flute; Singer Dayna Slaughenhoupt; Musicians Meghana Rao, Darby Moore, and Kristy Liao, members of the Florence Young Composers’ Forum; a comedic skit by Shaw Thompson and Blake Graham; Singer Cheryl Brown; and the Masterworks Choir accompanied by Robin Thompson.

Sponsors of the benefit to date include: Wells Fargo; Nucor-Darlington; Armstrong Wealth Management; MAG Mutual; PGBA; Mr. and Mrs. Rob Colones; Dr. Larry Grubb and Dr. T. Rhett Spencer; Pee Dee Pathology Associates; Aiken & Company Insurance and Realty; Aon Hewitt; First Reliance Bank; Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Hardaway; Kaufman, Hall & Associates; Kerry Floyd – Media Source 1, Inc; Lincoln Financial; MedeAnalytics; Mary Helen Condon Moore, CFM of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Group; Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.; Pee Dee Electric Cooperative; Pepsi Cola of Florence; Silkroad Technology; and Stifel Nicolaus & Company.

To purchase tickets, please contact Kendra Collins in the McLeod Foundation office at 777-2694 or visit www.mcleodfoundation.org and click on the An Evening of Hope icon on the left side of the homepage.

About An Evening of Hope
Since 2000, An Evening of Hope has been instrumental in funding such forms of cancer technology as the McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit, the inReach System™ by superDimension for the early detection of lung cancer, and a Dedicated Breast MRI Biopsy Table as well as mammogram scholarships for women in need and other programs and services that impact the lives of the region’s cancer patients.

This year’s event will benefit the McLeod Cancer Center currently under construction on the campus of McLeod Regional Medical Center. The Cancer Center is being designed to offer an environment dedicated to the physical and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families. The new center will provide innovative multi-disciplinary care, ease of access to appointments with McLeod Oncologists and participation in research trials, as well as cancer treatment all in one location.

In addition, state-of-the-art technology that will be offered in the Cancer Center includes a new "super" linear accelerator specifically designed for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS). The delivery of Stereotactic Radiosurgery involves precise three dimensional radiation to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors as well as nerve conditions. This technology also minimizes harm to healthy tissue and areas of the body including the spinal cord or lungs.