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

Roswell Park Cancer Institute's annual "Tree of Hope" lighting ceremony will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 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 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" include:

•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 Dec. 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 feature a candle ceremony paying tribute to those lost to cancer, and survivors still fighting the disease. 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 calling 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.

Local television viewers can watch live coverage of the event on WGRZ Channel 2 that evening beginning at 5 p.m.

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email [email protected]. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.