2003 Message

 

Reynaldo O. Joson, MD

 

16th Annual Christmas Get-together of the MDH Cancer Crusaders Club

December 7, 2003, Tangco Hall

 

Good morning!  Mabuhay kayong lahat!

 

I welcome you all to the 16th Christmas Get-Together of the MDH Cancer Crusaders Club and I thank you for your attendance in this very important activity.

 

I say this Christmas Get-Together of the MDH Cancer Crusaders Club is a very important activity in the sense that it has provided and is providing psychosocial support to people with cancer and to people previously with cancer.

 

Let me ask you, do you feel stronger when you attend this gathering?

Stronger physically?  Stronger mentally and emotionally?  Stronger in whatever sense?

 

The other reason why I say this Christmas Get-Together of the Cancer Crusaders Club is important is because it keeps cancer patients alive and kicking.

 

Let’s look at the ex-cancer patients who have attended this kind of gathering before and are still alive up to this date.

 

Look for ex-cancer patients in the audience – how many years post treatment?

How many 20 years’ survivor?  15 years?  10 years?  5 years?

 

The Annual Get-Together of the MDH Cancer Crusaders Club helps in making cancer survivors out of people with cancers.  For those who have unfortunately gone ahead of us to the other world but who had attended this get-together, I am sure they had a peaceful final moment on earth because the Cancer Crusaders Club had helped them accept reality.

 

The MDH Cancer Crusaders Club has persisted up to 16 years.  It is probably the longest cancer support group in the Philippines in existence.

 

For its sustenance and for the benefits it is giving to cancer patients, I would like to thank the following people:

 

  1. You, the cancer patients and cancer survivors, for you are the reason for existence of this club
  2. Beth Tumanbeng, my secretary
  3. Dr. Elsie Dancel, member of the MDH Tumor Board in charge of the cancer support group
  4. MDH Administration
  5. Benefactors who had provided financial support, inspirations, and entertainment to our cancer survivors, over the years.

 

I hope to see you every 1st Sunday of December. 

 

Pls. look forward to the 1st Sunday of December because it is a good way to stay alive and be a cancer survivor!

 

Thank you and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!