TYRONE – The Tyrone Hospital Foundation held its 12th annual Tree of Light ceremony at Tyrone Hospital. The ceremony was broadcast live by WTRN radio. Sen. John Eichelberger was in attendance as a special guest.
Interior trees bearing angels honoring or remembering loved ones or organizations were illuminated during the ceremony.
The ceremony included comments made by Kelly Wike, president of the Tyrone Hospital Board of Directors, Randy Miles Sr., chairman of the Tyrone Hospital Foundation, Stephen Gildea, chief executive officer at Tyrone Hospital and Senator John Eichelberger.
A spiritual message was delivered by the Rev. Susan Yatta of the First English Lutheran Church in Tyrone. Vocal selections were provided by the St.Matthew’s School Choir, which performs at the ceremony annually.
The Tree of Light ceremony is held in conjunction with the foundation’s annual Tree of Light fundraiser to benefit Tyrone Hospital.Individuals may make a donation to place an angel on the hospital’s Tree of Light through the end of December.
Proceeds will be used to upgrade Tyrone Hospital’s mammography to digital mammography technology, a test used for early detection of breast cancer. With community support, this critical diagnostic tool will be made available locally.
About one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Early detection of breast cancer dramatically increases the survival rate to near 100 percent.
The Tree of Light campaign runs through the end of December. Tree of Light donation forms are available for pick-up at the hospital’s central registration desk, by calling the foundation office at 814-682-1813 or via e-mail at tyanchetz@tyronehospital.org or by going to the Tyrone Hospital Foundation web page. Go to www.tyronehospital.org, click on Tyrone Hospital Foundation and then click on events.