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Bells ringing for cancer survivors at New York State Fair

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO News
At the Upstate Medical University booth at the New York State Fair, 65-year old Harry Butt, a cancer survivor, rings the bell to mark the accomplishment.

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.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.