Hattiesburg Half Marathon Awards Medals to Cancer Survivors at Forrest General’s Cancer Center

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (November 15, 2019) Commemorating the end of radiation treatment, Hattiesburg Half Marathon and Forrest General Hospital have begun awarding medals to patients at Forrest General’s Cancer Center.

“A cancer diagnosis changes a person’s life and marks the beginning of a sometimes long and difficult journey. The physicians and staff at the Cancer Center do their best to make those journeys easier for our patients, but nothing feels better than celebrating with them on their last day of treatment. For years, they’ve celebrated by ringing a bell, and now, they will have something to take home with them, which makes the occasion even more special,” said Millie Swan, vice president, Forrest Health.

Radiation therapy sessions, which usually last between 10 and 30 minutes at a time, are typically spread out over as many as eight weeks. The short duration of each session allows the patients’ healthy cells to have time to recover.

“When a patient crosses the finish line of radiation therapy, the Hattiesburg Half Marathon wants to award them with a race medal. Our motto at the Hattiesburg Half is, ‘our runners earn their medals,’ and cancer patients are no different. They have earned their medal through the same hard work, dedication, and perseverance as our runners,” said Rhonda Hayden, race director, Hattiesburg Half Marathon.

Today marked the last day of radiation therapy for Mr. Dalton Pigott. His urologist, Sean Douglas, MD, diagnosed Pigott with prostate cancer, and he has been on this journey since. Pigott rang the bell and received his medal in the Forrest General Cancer Center lobby becoming an inspiration to other patients and staff alike.

Pigott said, “I feel excellent. Being diagnosed with cancer was heartbreaking at first, but Dr. Douglas was very encouraging. I took it one day at a time, and my family was around along with friends and my community. It got better with time. When I first got to the Cancer Center, I was a little afraid, but after entering those doors each morning and talking with the people here like therapists and doctors, it was a wonderful experience.”

For more information about Forrest General’s Cancer Center or any of its services, visit forrestgeneral.com.

CAPTION: Left to right: Ramona Martin, RN, patient navigator; Millie Swan, vice president, Forrest Health; Dalton Pigott; and Rhonda Hayden, race director, Hattiesburg Half Marathon

Contact:

Amanda Kirby
Media Coordinator

Marketing and Communications Department

601-288-1303

amanda.kirby@forrestgeneral.com