The recently opened City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, a newly completed $1 billion cancer center in Irvine, is spreading its message of hope at new heights for the month of September. In doing so, City of Hope has outfitted Irvine’s iconic hot air balloon inside the Great Park with a special message in solidarity with cancer survivors and their families.

On Monday, Aug. 22, health experts within City of Hope and FivePoint leadership gathered with City of Hope patients to unveil the new balloon design. Dan Hedigan, chief executive officer of FivePoint, said the addition of City of Hope Orange County is a game changer and is taking the quality of cancer care to “new heights.”

“We are honored to stand alongside their team and support their life-saving mission because it will have such an enormous impact on the lives of people in Irvine, the region and around the world,” Hedigan said.

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, explained the phrase “Rise Above Cancer” is part of an initiative between City of Hope Orange County and FivePoint.

Walked added that the message of optimism is an opportunity for Orange County’s 3.2 million residents to help eradicate the disease together by encouraging residents to get regular health screenings in order to catch cancer in its early stages.

“Cancer touches us all,” Walker said. “Advanced cancer care and groundbreaking research are helping turn the tide against cancer, and we’re asking everyone in Orange County to ‘Rise Above Cancer’ with us. Everyone in the community, including our friends and family, can share in this hope on the horizon. Let’s work together to lift our community to new heights of hope and health.”

Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan welcomed City of Hope Orange County to the Irvine community, adding that she is thrilled that Irvine can support this monumental and innovative addition to health care and state-of-the-art research in Orange County.

“The City of Irvine is thrilled to welcome City of Hope to our community. Since arriving in Orange
County, City of Hope has been a dedicated partner committed to improving the health and well-being here,” Khan said. “Rising above cancer is important to every one of us.”

Set to welcome its first patients in late August, City of Hope Orange County will have more than 60 exam rooms, 43 infusion bays, which were designed with patient input, and the Hope Boutique, a full-service salon, featuring oncology-trained cosmetologists who help patients with customized cosmetology services, including breast prostheses and other services.

Edward S. Kim, M.D., M.B.A., physician-in-chief at City of Hope Orange County and vice physician-in-chief, City of Hope National Medical Center, echoed Walker explaining that “preventing cancer is the best way to beat it. As we welcome our first patients to City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, we are beginning a new era of hope in our fight against this disease.”

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