There’s a new sound at the New York State Fair in Syracuse this year. The Upstate Medical University booth in the Science and Industry Building offers cancer survivors a chance to ring a bell to mark their accomplishment.
Nine-year old Madeleine Pointer was the first to ring the bell, a seven-year survivor of kidney cancer.
"It’s exciting to be the first to ring it,” Pointer said.
Matt Capogreco of the Upstate Cancer Center said the bell sends a message.
"People need to see there is another side of cancer, which is survival. Which is, we’re doing better with survival. We’re doing better with helping people get through it, survive it, get past it, and deal with it afterwards," Capogreco said. "We want them to celebrate that.”
There are similar 7-inch brass bells on each floor of the cancer center building, rung when treatment is finished.
Upstate invites all cancer survivors to stop by and ring the bell during the run of the fair.