Blog Saint John’s Health Center: Lights of Hope – A night of remembrance, resilience, and hope
Light of Hope - Saint John's Health Center

Remembering Our Loved Ones Who Passed Away from Cancer in 2025

Children drawing - Lights of Hope
With coloring materials in hand, children offered their creativity, making each one as unique as the people they represented.
On Sunday, September 7th, 2025, families and friends gathered at Saint John’s Health Center to honor loved ones who had passed from cancer, celebrate survivors, support those in treatment, and recognize the caregivers who make a difference. Others, still supporting those currently battling the disease, came in solidarity. Children sat at the crafts table, writing and coloring small, prayerful notes on white paper bags. The bags lined the Rose Gardens, each one uniquely decorated with a small artificial candle inside. People walked quietly among them, nodding in reverence at the beauty and meaning behind each design. As evening approached, the bags illuminated, creating a powerful space for reflection and prayer. The event was sponsored by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and took place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Each Light of Hope carried a story highlighting the urgent need for strong, continued investment in cancer research. Federal investments in research over the past 30 years have fueled discoveries and innovations that have led to a 34% decline in cancer mortality rates. ACS CAN continues to advocate for increased cancer research funding, because every major breakthrough in the fight against cancer has one thing in common: the research was in some way funded by the federal government’s National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Watch Lights of Hope 2025

Saint John’s Health Center continues to be a healing space for both patients and caretakers. Events like this allow us to grieve in ways we often suppress, offering profound comfort to our patient community. Events such as these remind us, Here, you may soften. Here, you may surrender. Here, you are safe. We at Saint John’s aim to support each patient throughout their entire cancer journey, guided by “Know me, Care for Me, Ease My Way,” as our stated mission.

Learn more about Cancer Support Services.

About the Author

Eleanor Zeri

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Saint John’s Cancer Institute is a cancer research institute dedicated to the understanding and curing of cancer in order to eliminate patient suffering worldwide.

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2200 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404		 Cancer Clinic:
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