Flames of Hope glows through the rain

SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS: Approximately 150 people served as torchbearers for the Illumination of Life Ceremony; many of them were breast cancer survivors, those still in treatment and some walked in remembrance of a lost family or friend to breast cancer.

(Photos courtesy of John A. Simonetti)

GREGG’S SIGNATURE PINK CAKE: Pictured are volunteers serving up the special signature Gregg’s Restaurant Pink Cakes to benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation. Cake was available during Celebration Village and are still available for purchase at Gregg’s. Gregg’s and their “Cake for the Cure” have been involved as active participants in The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. They have raised funds through our “Cake for the Cure” proceeds, as well as preparing cakes for the Flames of Hope, which was held this past weekend.

Posted Thursday, October 5, 2017 3:22 pm

This past weekend, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation held their annual Flames of Hope in Providence. With many new attractions, such as zip lining and tasty events, this serves as the premier fundraising and awareness events for the Foundation.

The Flames of Hope Weekend began on Saturday with the Passport to Survivorship Expo, at the Omni Providence Hotel, which was free to everyone. At 3 p.m., the festivities moved outdoors to Station Park, despite the rain. The park is renamed Celebration Village for this event and thousands of people enjoyed an evening of remembrance, reflection, music, food and fun activities. Many of the booths and vendors were under tents.

Finally, the rain stopped and at sundown, thousands watched the Illuminations of Life Ceremony on the State House steps as the State Ballet of Rhode Island performed an inspiring story of hope through beautiful choreography by Shana Fox Marceau and then that was followed by the emotional display of 150 torchbearers processing to the Providence River Basin to light the largest WaterFire of the season.

The weekend came to an end on Sunday with the Gloria Gemma Run-Walk Series. The series included three races; the Kids Fun Run for children ages 5-11, the Pink Pump Palooza which is a 50-yard dash run in high heels by men and women, followed by the Gloria Gemma 5K.

Established in 2004, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation is a private nonprofit committed to celebrating the lives of those touched by breast cancer, in the greater Rhode Island area.