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Health & Fitness

Northside Hospital Celebrates 25th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

For the 25th year, Northside Hospital will honor those affected by cancer with the lighting of giant Christmas trees atop its campuses in Atlanta, Alpharetta and Cumming.  All three trees will be lit on a NEW night – Friday, Dec. 6, with a free community celebration, 6-8 p.m., at Northside Hospital-Forsyth in Cumming.

This annual holiday tradition brings together thousands of families each year.  This year, the event will include entertainment from the Sawnee Ballet, Born to Dance, Haw Creek Elementary School, Coal Mountain Elementary, Findley Oaks Elementary and Forsyth Central High School, along with photos with Santa Claus and many other activities for the kids.  Once again, WSB-TV anchor Fred Blankenship will serve as the event’s emcee.  The celebration is free to attend.  No RSVP is necessary.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years,” said Lynn Jackson, administrator, Northside Hospital-Forsyth.  “We are so grateful to our staff, patients and the community for making Celebration of Lights such an honored holiday tradition over the years.”

Since 1989, Celebration of Lights has raised more than $520,000 for the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.  Northside is a regional and national leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.  The hospital is the only Atlanta hospital chosen by the National Cancer Institute to be a Community Cancer Center, which gives patients access to the latest cancer research and treatments close to home.  More cases of breast, GYN and prostate cancer are treated at Northside than anywhere else in Georgia, and the hospital has among the best survival rates in the nation for bone marrow transplants.

Each light on the three Christmas trees (nearly 200,000 lights in total) represents someone whose life has been touched by cancer.  Lights can be purchased and designated in honor or memory of family, friends and physicians.  Festive cards, designed by a local student, will be sent to loved ones.  All proceeds go directly to assist cancer patients and families in need with medical care, medicine, transportation and lodging.  Lights will be available for purchase at the Celebration of Lights event on Dec. 6 and throughout the holiday season.  All gifts are tax-deductible.

“Celebration of Lights is a great reminder of the hope and promise that the holiday season can bring, which is what we want for everyone affected by cancer,” added Jackson.

For more information about Celebration of Lights or to make a secure donation, visit https://give.northside.com/lights.  To have a donation form sent to you, call 770-667-GIVE (4483) or email foundation@northside.com.

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