Community Outreach Committee (COC) members Cristin Gill, supervisor, Ambulatory Operations East, and Kristen Amick, assistant counsel, Legal and Risk Services, Yale New Haven Health, recently implemented the Medals and Messages of Hope initiative for patients undergoing treatment at Smilow Cancer Hospital in Waterford.
In collaboration with Amick’s daughter Christina – the former Miss Pre-Teen Connecticut and current Miss New London County – they collected 500 medals and 20 trophies from competitive runners worldwide to give to oncology patients for support and encouragement.
In conjunction with the collection, volunteers from L+M Hospital and local NEMG offices, as well as Christina’s classmates from East Lyme Middle School, wrote letters and notes of support to oncology patients. The first set of awards and notes were presented to patients in August; the Messages of Hope letter-writing initiative is ongoing. The program has been so successful organizers hope to make it an annual event.
“Each of these medals and trophies tells a story of strength from the person who earned it,” said Kristen Amick. “Each letter contains a message especially for the patient. We’re hoping this strength and encouragement inspires patients in their journey.”
