Almost all of us have been touched by cancer in some way. Whether we are the survivors or love someone who has beat the disease, living is always worth celebrating. Here, we bring you a few tips on how to throw a party worthy of the occasion.
Set the date.
First things first, figure out a date that works best. If your survivor has recently finished chemotherapy, you might want to give them a few weeks to regain their strength. It’s okay to let them know that you’ve planned a party, and they might appreciate having some input on the day.
Figure out a theme and create invitations.
Selecting a party theme adds cohesion to the celebration. Consider themes and decorations that resonate with the survivor's interest in passions. You can incorporate vibrant colors, symbols of hope, such as the cancer ribbon, and inspirational quotes into the party decor. Create a unique invitation that you can email or print that will double as a keepsake. Need design help? You may consider this option; it’s free, and no credit card is required.
At personal touches.
In addition to your party theme, make a point to add personal touches that celebrate the survivor’s unique journey and accomplishments. You might, for example, design a creative photo collage showcasing their journey from diagnosis to recovery. Highlight moments that mean something, such as the birth of a child or grandchild. You might even make shirts for everyone that celebrates a unique point in their recovery journey – Printify shows you how to do it yourself using transfer paper and an iron.
Give meaningful gifts.
There’s no doubt that you want to shower your favorite survivor with meaningful gifts that help them celebrate themselves every day. Make it something that’s truly personal. You might, for example, gift them the HIS Pink & Blue Billiards Kit, which comes complete with a custom pink cue ball.
Open up the floor.
Involve everyone near and dear to your survivor’s hearts. You can set up a makeshift stage so that everyone can stand up and tell their favorite cancer survivor exactly how much they mean to them and what it means that they beat the odds. If you have a sound system and a wireless mic, BolyMic offers tips on how to connect these so that there’s no doubt their sentimental words are heard.
Give them a special surprise.
The sky's the limit here. Give your loved one a special surprise. It could be anything from a video message from their favorite actor, athlete, or musician or have a party catered by their favorite restaurants. Whatever you do and whatever you give, give it from the heart.
Clean up after yourself.
You spent your time planning the party, and you may have even surprised your loved one with something special. But you also have to commit to cleaning up after yourself, especially if the party was held in their home. Even if they are well into remission, they may still tire more easily than others. Recruit your crew, and then follow these from Maid For You to help you clean up quickly and easily so that you don’t put added stress on your guest of honor.
As more and more people beat cancer – the death rate has declined 33% since the early 1990s – you can expect to see a lot more survivor parties. That’s great news for those of us who love someone who’s been diagnosed. But make sure that your celebration doesn’t exhaust your survivor. From creating keepsake invitations to planning a special surprise and cleaning up after yourself, today’s tips are just a few ways that you can throw a memorable bash that helps you celebrate survivorship.
Today’s post is brought to you by HIS Breast Cancer Awareness.
Editor; Denise Lozada | Outreach Coordinator
CancerSocietyofAmerica.info