photo by: Emma Delk

Sisters Velvet Saltkield, left, and Carla Barris, center, accompany their mother Shirley Conaway, right, to the WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Luau Cancer Survivorship Picnic at Wheeling Park’s Sonneborn Shelter.

WHEELING — Local cancer survivors donned Hawaiian shirts and leis to celebrate their battle against the disease during the WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Luau Cancer Survivorship Picnic.

The event at Wheeling Park’s Sonneborn Shelter on Sunday served as a way for cancer survivors and their loved ones to connect while enjoying luau-themed activities and a buffet.

Rhonda Braden, WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Medical Oncology Division social worker and survivorship coordinator, said the picnic served as a way for cancer survivors to relax with their families and loved ones. She added that the event was open to any cancer survivor in the valley at any stage in their battle against the disease.

“Whether they’re receiving treatment, are in post-treatment or have just been diagnosed, we want them to bring their families and guests with them to enjoy their day,” Braden said. “The most important thing for us is to give patients and their families an opportunity to sit back, relax and have a good time.”

Braden noted many attendees were still in treatment, adding that this “takes a toll on the body and mind.” She hoped the event would help them take their mind off the disease while having some fun.

Attendees enjoyed a buffet along with a variety of games. Every survivor received a step counter and an insulated tumbler, and door prizes were available that were donated by local businesses, including wreaths made by patients.

Beth Philips, who was diagnosed with leukemia in January, was most looking forward to enjoying the buffet with her sister Debbie Branson. She said the luau was one of many activities she had planned following her diagnosis as a way to “get out and enjoy life.”

“I’m on my sixth round of treatment, so I will just keep doing treatments until they don’t work,” Philips said. “If I have the chance to get out and enjoy life, that’s what I do. When anybody says, ‘Let’s go there,’ I’m there.”

Branson said it was important to her to stick by her sister during her battle against the disease. The two had taken many trips together since Philips’s diagnosis, including a family trip to the beach in April and a visit to Amish country yesterday.

“She’s everything to me, and my best friend, and I will fight with her to the end,” Branson said. “It was beautiful to go to the beach together and just spend time together.”

Philips said she planned to go to other events like the luau, with Sunday’s picnic being her first WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital cancer survivors event.

“You never know what tomorrow brings, so you just have to go and enjoy time with family and friends and do whatever you can do,” Philips said. “I just thank everyone, and all the nurses, doctors and staff at Wheeling Hospital are wonderful.”

Shirley Conaway, who was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in July 2024, also enjoyed the picnic with her loved ones. Conaway was accompanied by her daughters, Carla Barris and Velvet Saltkield, at the luau.

“This is my first time at one of these gatherings because I haven’t been in treatment for very long, and I thought these were actually for people who have already survived,” Conaway said. “Then I was told, ‘If you live one day after you’ve been diagnosed, you survived.’ We’ve been having a great time at the picnic.”

Conaway enjoyed the day with her daughters, adding that she had three sons who weren’t in attendance who were also helping her along her cancer journey. She thanked WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital staff for “going above and beyond” for both her treatments and for events like the picnic.

“I go to Wheeling Hospital for my treatments, and they are wonderful,” Conaway said. “I’ve enjoyed seeing a lot of oncology staff here today.”

Braden was glad to see patients enjoying the activities and getting to know other survivors. She noted that the picnic was one of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital’s activities hosted throughout the year for cancer survivors.

Braden added that the support groups available to cancer survivors at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, including those for women, men, breast cancer and blood cancer survivors, were “very informal and peer-controlled.” The groups are also open to cancer survivors at any stage of their battle against the disease.

“Some people are new, some are in post-treatment and some people are survivors that just have to go back once a year for their annual evaluation with their doctors,” Braden said. “These support groups and gatherings like this one give everybody an opportunity to receive that special support, whether it’s to come and speak freely about their treatment or just talk to other people who have gone through similar things.”