A Change of Seasons

It seems that for many people a change of seasons gives pause; makes us think critically about the past few months and look hopefully to the future. We look around us and make plans to change things that haven't been working for us. We find ways to improve our circumstances... whether it be our employment situation, or just the way our laundry room is organized. It's a change - a chance to shed one situation and start fresh. Funny how this happens just due to a change in temperature, isn't it?

This cultural phenomena is mirrored in the way that we react to the news of having cancer. All of a sudden, what was stressful or challenging before is no longer looming as large. Or perhaps those situations are still affecting our lives, but we see them through a different filter. The filter called Cancer changes our perspective in many ways, large and small.

At HOPE, we meet with people every day who have just started seeing through that filter. They still have challenges - and they may be facing new ones - but with our help they find resources and meet people who have been where they are and can help anticipate some of the things that are on their horizon as they go through their treatments.

One of the things we have had on our plate over the last few months was our 5th Annual Bill Fleeman Gentlemen of Distinction Fashion Show. It was held October 10 in Rogers, and we were all thrilled to see the evening arrive and the attendees enjoying themselves. We had almost 450 there that evening, and $65,000.00 was raised to benefit HOPE throughout the next year. Big thanks goes out to our presenting sponsors, Harps and Price Cutter, and all the models who risked their reputation to strut down the runway for us:

Blake Evans, Scott Crossett, Derek Gibson, Art Morris, Patrick Woodruff, Chris Haimbach, Tony Hui, Gerald Jordan, J. Max Van Hoose, Roger Gildehaus, Scott Hancock, and James Keenan were all fantastic!

Thanks too, to Sidney P. Davis, Jr., the recipient of our Bill Fleeman Gentleman of Distinction award that evening. Sid and his lovely wife, Rita, have been supporters of HOPE for many years, and recently donated to the new cancer care facility being built at UAMS in Little Rock. They are wonderful supporters of our mission, and that of cancer care throughout the state.

We hope you are looking forward to a lovely holiday season with your friends and family. Please remember us as you consider your gifts this year - a donation to HOPE provides assistance to those in our community who may be finding it hard to enjoy the holidays. We appreciate your support.