Rays of Hope Founder to Keynote Breast Cancer Survivors’ Day

SPRINGFIELD — Lucy Giuggio Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope – A Walk and Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer, will be the keynote speaker at the 19th annual Rays of Hope Breast Cancer Survivors’ Day on Saturday, April 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield.

Carvalho will present an address titled “A Walk in the Park – A Journey of Hope,” which will focus on her journey through her breast-cancer diagnosis and the events leading up to her founding of the Rays of Hope. She will also discuss her inspiration through faith, the connected paths in our lives, and how a simple walk in a park evolved into a journey of hope for herself and for so many others.

Carvalho, who was diagnosed at age 38 with early-stage breast cancer in 1993, organized the first walk soon afterwards. At the time, she was a registered nurse in the oncology unit at Baystate Medical Center. Today, she is a full-time clinical instructor in the College of Nursing at UMass Amherst. She remains active on the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer research advisory board.

In addition to Carvalho’s keynote address, participants can select two workshops to attend, including “Estrogen and the Environment,” “Healthy Gut for a Healthier Body,” “Current Issues in Breast Imaging: What Patients Should Know,” “Tai Chi – Regain 8 Years of Youth,” “A Good Night’s Sleep,” “Self-Nurturing,” “Lymphedema and Other Breast-cancer-related Topics – the Reality and the Myth,” and “Finding Space in Your Place.” There will also be two sessions offered in Spanish only: “Fabulous Fascinators” and “Cancer de Seno en la Mujer Latina.”

Attendees can also participate in one of two interactive stations offered throughout the day, “Paint Social Art” and the “Creative Card Bar.” There will also be networking opportunities throughout the day and the chance to visit with several exhibitors who will sell a variety of breast-related products and more. A buffet luncheon will be served.

Registration is required. The cost is $35 per person, with the remaining dollars underwritten by Rays of Hope. For those unable to afford the fee, a limited number of scholarships are available for breast-cancer survivors by calling Sandy Hubbard at the Rays of Hope Outreach office at (413) 794-9556.

For more information or to request a registration form, call (413) 794-9556. For more information on Rays of Hope, visit www.baystatehealth.org/raysofhope.