WARREN - Supporting one another was the message shared by cancer survivors and their caregivers who gathered recently at the annual Humility of Mary Health Partners-sponsored cancer survivor summer picnic.
Connie Moorhouse, HMHP public relations, said HMHP holds the free picnics every year for the cancer survivors and their guests. Held at the St. Demetrios Community Center, this year's theme was ''Down on the Farm.''
With country music, country decorations including a haystack, and a visit from country-themed characters such as ''Minnie Pearl,'' the outdoor pavilion was transformed into a country barn setting.
Vanessa Chamberlain, coordinator of cancer prevention and detection, said more than 170 cancer survivors and caregivers attended for food, games and music by John Ruman.
She said this is the eighth year for the event.
Two events are held, one in Trumbull County and the other in Mahoning County, to accommodate the number of cancer survivors and to provide a convenient location. The Mahoning County event will be this week in Poland.
"This does the patients and survivors lot of good. We want to show our support to them,'' Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain said many of those who attended are at least 20-year cancer survivors or receiving chemotherapy.
Each survivor was given a ribbon with number of years he or she has been a cancer survivor.
Violet Stinedurf of Howland is a 3-year cancer survivor, and her sister, Helen Emery of Bristol, is a 15-year survivor.
Stinedurf said she supported her sister when she battled cancer and her sister supported and helped her. She said many who attend can relate to what one another has gone through.
"I attend these to get to meet others and to gives others support like the have done for me,'' Emery said.
Emery said that as an American Cancer Society volunteer, she speaks cancer patients to provide support from someone who has gone through what they are facing.