“A Pathway to Santa” is an annual holiday celebration organized by the late Bruce Smith of Palmer Township. Smith was a lung cancer survivor and for eight years encouraged local businesses, schools and not-for-profit organizations to join him in spreading holiday joy to patients and staff on various units at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg in Bethlehem. Smith passed away in June.

More than a dozen mascots, including Santa Claus, meLVin from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Lehigh University’s CLUTCH the Mountain Hawk and the Just Born Peep, visited patients and staff at the hospital Dec. 7. The Liberty HS choir and orchestra also provided holiday entertainment.

Smith, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007. He was treated at the Infusion Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, and the tumor amazingly disappeared. Smith said “A Pathway to Santa” was his way of giving back to the hospital, which gave him a second chance, and to the community. He wanted patients and staff to know that they were being thought of, especially during the holiday season. Smith raised more than $260,000 in gift in-kind donations for cancer patients over the years.

Contributed by LVH