Tri-State cancer survivors celebrate victory during annual Evansville event
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Cancer Pathways hosted its annual Tri-State Cancer Survivor Day. Family and guests were treated to an afternoon of games, food and a live musical performance from a fellow survivor.
The annual event is catered towards 'fighters, survivors and thrivers' — to escape doctor's appointments, treatments and side effects — to spend a day to celebrate their 'survivorship.'
'When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, their life is filled with uncertainty.' said Cancer Pathways Executive Director Krista Wilson. 'Sometimes they can't do normal things with their families anymore. So that gets put on the back burner for a bit or maybe until they're out of treatment or in a better spot. So this is just a day for them to come out and take a break.'
'It's a great feeling coming in and seeing all the people that have been impacted by cancer,' said 3-year survivor Matthew Morell. 'This is my first year for this… I'm just thankful to be here and to be here for everybody else.'
Following the survivor walk, guests were treated to a live musical performance from Cancer Pathways Ambassador, and fellow survivor, Katie Watts. Watts says she was diagnosed in 2023 where she under went two throat surgeries that paralyzed her vocal folds — leaving her unable to speak or sing for nearly a year.
'I lost my voice. It was just a whisper,' said Watts. 'Singing was gone. That was my passion. But between speech therapy, different techniques and sticking with it — in about 9 to 10 months which is really rare — it came back to 85%. But honestly, I think it's 100% now. At least it feels that way.'
Wilson says the event is not just for the survivors, but also for the family and caregivers who surround them. Abby Strader shares what it means to be a caregiver during a celebration like this. Her journey as a caregiver began when her then 13-month-old, Madeline, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
'I unfortunately lost my Mom the same year my daughter was diagnosed with cancer very abruptly,' said Strader. 'It's very heartwarming and heart wrenching all at the same time to be at an event like this, but it means so much to have the opportunity to have those feelings and to have them here.'
While the event gave guests the chance to create a strong community together, many of the survivors know that there is still more to their stories once they leave the building.
'I'm still not at a place where I accept that my 13-month old had cancer and I don't know when that will ever take place,' said Strader. 'But events like this at an organization like Cancer Pathways has definitely helped heal a little bit of that trauma from the diagnosis.'
Event organizers say they are prepared to to have this event be 'bigger and better' year after year.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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For more information, please visit its website at Forward-Looking Statements: This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law. References: 1. Expert consensus on the application of rituximab in the treatment of membranous nephropathy, Chin J Intern Med, March 2022, Vol. 61, No. 3. View original content: SOURCE Everest Medicines Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
