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Update as of September 22, 2023: With the forecasted inclement weather, and in the interest of safety, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center has decided to postpone the Comprehensive Carnival scheduled for Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

The safety and well-being of everyone in our community are of utmost importance to us, and we look forward to the opportunity to celebrate Massey’s recent NCI Comprehensive status announcement without the threat of dangerous or disruptive weather. We will share details about the rescheduled event as soon as they are available.

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In June, VCU Massey Cancer Center achieved the highest level of recognition from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Massey plans to celebrate this achievement with a free, family-friendly carnival on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 1 - 4 p.m. The event, held at VCU’s Stuart C. Siegel Center (1200 W Broad Street), is open to the public. (NOTE: This event has been postponed due to inclement weather).

“We couldn’t have earned this comprehensive status without the partnership of our community members, who help us perform more targeted research to better meet our population’s specific needs,” said Robert A. Winn, M.D., Massey director and Lipman Chair in Oncology. “This carnival is our way of saying thank you, celebrating and looking ahead to what accomplishments we can achieve together next.”

Massey leaders will provide remarks on the impact of comprehensive status on the community, highlighting the work that Massey does across its catchment area and the contributions of community members.

Attendees to the afternoon event can look forward to:

• Free carnival-themed food
• A dunk tank with the chance to soak some of Massey’s familiar faces
• Carnival games from ring toss to tic tac toe, with prize giveaways
• Bounce houses, balloon artists, face painters and more!

The carnival will also offer attendees an exclusive first look at Massey’s new mobile health vans, featuring artwork by Richmond-area artists Hamilton Glass and Sir James Thornhill. Starting this fall, the vans will be deployed to provide critical cancer education and outreach to people within traditionally underserved communities in central and southern Virginia.

Representatives of Massey’s community outreach & engagement team, as well as its clinical trials, development and volunteer teams, will be available to answer questions about the programs, what comprehensive status means for Massey and how interested community members can get involved.

Written by: Annie Harris