Roswell Park Community to Gather Around Tree of Hope Friday, Dec. 12

Lighting of Tree of Hope by pediatric cancer survivor to cap family-friendly holiday event

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s (RPCI’s) annual Tree of Hope lighting ceremony will be held on Friday, Dec. 12 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Kaminski Park and Gardens on the RPCI campus. This free, family-friendly event, to be held in honor of all who are touched by cancer, will feature holiday activities such as live music, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting and a gingerbread house raffle.

Guests can expect all the joys of the holiday season at this outdoor event, which is co-sponsored by WGRZ 2 On Your Side and West Herr Automotive. The festivities will culminate with the lighting of the Tree of Hope by a cancer survivor from Carly’s Club for Kids & Cancer Research in WNY.

Activities and attractions to be featured at this year’s Tree of Hope:
Performances by Buffalo-born recording artists The Doyle Brothers, The Caroling Counselors and The Friends of Harmony’s HyNotes
Visits and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Horse-drawn-carriage rides donated by the Collins Draft Horse, Ox and Pony Club
Live ice sculpting by Paul Strada
Gingerbread house raffle
Face painting
Make-your-own-ornament kids’ craft station
Actors from the Alleyway Theatre production of “A Christmas Carol,” running December 11-21 (information and tickets at alleyway.com)
Dunkin’ Donuts, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Buffalo and BJ’s Wholesale Club to provide refreshments
Animated light show: a display of 75,000 energy-efficient LED lights, orchestrated to holiday music
Free Yroswell Blinkin’ Sunglasses, while supplies last

The event will also feature a candle ceremony paying tribute to those we’ve lost to cancer and survivors still fighting the disease, and attendees will have the opportunity to write personal and inspirational messages on snowflake ornaments to be placed on a holiday tree in the Roswell Park main lobby.

Guests may register to attend Tree of Hope by contacting 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or online at www.roswellpark.org/treeofhope.

Free parking will be available in Roswell Park’s on-campus parking ramp, located at Carlton and Elm Streets in Buffalo.

Western New York, Western Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario television viewers can watch live coverage of the event on WGRZ-TV Channel 2 that evening beginning at 5 p.m.