Forty sponsors, volunteers, board members and cancer survivors were honored at the fourth annual Chemo Bag Appreciation Dinner at the Sun Inn in January. At the dinner, held by The CHEMO Bag Inc., board chair Cathy Heimsoth said that the 501 (c)(3) is continuing to grow. In 2019, the non-profit provided more than 1,000 bags of comfort items to cancer patients undergoing their first chemotherapy session.

CHEMO bags are distributed at Lehigh Valley infusion centers. They are filled with items that are useful or that offset the side effects of the treatment, for example, lap blankets and hand-knitted hats because chemo makes patients feel cold; mints and bottled water because chemo dries out lips and dehydrates; and hand and body lotion. The two dozen or so items in each bag are all donated.

While the contents of the bags help bring physical relief to chemotherapy patients, comments from recipients shared at the dinner confirmed that the giving of the bags also represents hope and support to cancer patients, as in the CHEMO acronym: Caring Helping Encouraging Motivating Others.

The evening’s speaker was entertainer Scott Marshall, twice a survivor of cancer. During his presentation, he talked about the importance of God in his life and recovery.

During her presentation, Heimsoth told attendees, “Each year after our dinner, we find renewed energy in our cause, and appreciation for those who help us.” She also announced that in 2020 The CHEMO Inc, flagship sponsor would be Matheson, a compressed gas and equipment company with plants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.