Expressions of Courage Survivor Celebration
Join us for a celebration of survivorship. Expressions of Courage survivor celebration will be held in the Longship Club at Kroger Field on the University of Kentucky Campus. Markey patients, together with their support groups and caregivers, will be joined by Markey faculty and staff to mark yet another milestone in their cancer battles.
This year's event took place on May 31, 2024. Please check back soon for 2025 dates.
Expressions of Courage Celebration
We look forward to celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day with you!
This event is dear to the hearts of our Markey team, and many will be at the event to greet, guide and celebrate you throughout the day. The Expressions of Courage event was created as a way for cancer survivors to encourage one another by sharing their cancer stories. All cancer survivors, regardless of their stage of treatment, are invited to attend with one guest.
We also invite you to share an original piece of art that best represents you and your cancer experience, but you do not have to submit artwork to attend.
Highlights of the event
- Lunch will be provided.
- Be inspired by our guest speaker, Emily McDowell.
- Add words of encouragement to the memorial wall.
- Learn from the panel of healthy living advisors.
- Take photos in the photo booth.
- Enjoy musical performances.
- Admire the art gallery of submissions from attendees and their loved ones.
Living Proof Gallery
Help us turn the Longship Club into a “healing art gallery.” We invite you to share a piece of art that best represents you and your experience. This art can take any form, such as sculpture, poetry or painting.
If your art is a physical piece, it can be dropped off any weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Markey Cancer Administration office on the first floor of UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Pavilion H, 800 Rose St. No artwork will be accepted one week prior to the event.
Also, please send a title and short statement (no more than 250 words) that can accompany your piece.
Event details
Who: Cancer survivors, patients and caregivers.
What: A National Cancer Survivors Day® event to celebrate your or a loved one’s journey through cancer survivorship.
When: 2025 To Be Announced
Where: The Longship Club at Kroger Field*, 1540 University Drive, on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington.
*On-site parking is available; attendees can park in the Blue Lot.
Attendees should enter the stadium through the Commonwealth Tower Premium Lobby between Gates 10 and 11 and take the elevators to the club on Mezzanine Level.
Event Registration
Registration for the 2024 event has ended. If you have questions, please email markey.survivorship@uky.edu or call Robin Fisher, Markey Cancer Center, Clinical Affairs at 859-323-8501.
Please be aware:
There will be paperwork for you to sign when you arrive. These include HIPAA, photo and intellectual property releases. You are asked to fill out the forms because we will be taking pictures during the event and hope to share them with the community. If you would like to review these forms prior to the event, follow the link to download the forms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cancer struggles can bring about powerful emotions, and patients convey their feelings in varied, personal ways. Expressions of Courage is designed as a showcase for those feelings, a celebration of both human creativity and the human spirit. Please note that this occasion is for all survivors. You need not contribute art to participate. Members of the Healthy Living Panel are also available to further enhance the recovery process. June is Cancer Survivorship Month and thus a good time for this annual gathering.
Dress casual and comfortable. If you have an Expressions of Courage T-shirt from a previous year’s event, feel free to show it off.
We invite you to share a piece of art that best represents you and your cancer experience. It may be newly created or something you made during your cancer journey. You may submit a quilt, painting, carving, poem, or other piece. While we encourage creativity, space is limited, so if there is another form of art you wish to submit (readings, dance, etc.), please contact us to see if arrangements can be made.
If your art is a physical piece, it can be dropped off at the Markey Cancer Center in the lobby of the Combs Research Building.
The art will be on display throughout the event, so we ask you to send a title and short statement (no more than 250 words) that can accompany your piece to e.hammons@uky.edu.
If you have a large piece, cannot drop off your art at the times above or need assistance, please call 859-323-8501 to make arrangements so a Markey representative can meet you outside the Markey Cancer Center.
This will be a rain-or-shine event, as the Longship Club is inside at Kroger Field.
