Nearly 400 guests gathered at Flourish Atlanta on Oct. 25 for the inaugural Piedmont Luminaria Gala, a black-tie event that raised more than $1.2 million to support cancer research, clinical trials and wellness programs across Georgia.

Hosted by Piedmont Oncology and the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation, the gala aimed to strengthen early detection and expand access to cancer care across the hospital system’s 27 locations, setting the tone for an evening focused on hope and purpose.

“Luminaria was a very exciting event,” Dr. Wally Curran, Chief of Piedmont Oncology Institute, said. “I think people felt like it was a special night to celebrate the great progress we made and the role Piedmont and Piedmont Oncology can have in it.” 

That feeling of momentum extended to those on stage, including Wendy Corona, WSB-TV news anchor and cancer survivor, who emceed the event.

“As emcee for the inaugural Luminaria gala, I wanted to convey how important it is that we unite to fight cancer and bring light into the lives of all those touched by this disease,” Corona said. “It’s in the name and there definitely was a light shining on those in the fight and those who support them. It was magical.”

As the event continued, survivors and families came to the stage to share their journeys, which Corona said developed an emotional atmosphere and highlighted the importance of the event’s mission.

“There were several personal stories shared throughout the program,” Corona said. “It’s when you put a face to the fight that it hits home. Families were so courageous to share what they went through and how they came out stronger in the end. It’s one thing to see people enjoying themselves at a gala like Luminaria… It’s even more meaningful when you know the road they’ve traveled to get to be there to celebrate their survivorship.”

The evening also gave participants like Corona a chance to open up about their own experiences with cancer.

“There was a moment in the program where I shared my personal pictures and the stories that went with the snapshots with the audience,” Corona said. “No one ever thinks they will be the one impacted by cancer, but it happens. It happened to me in May 2021 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Being in the room with so many warriors and a medical community determined to beat cancer made me feel safe and embraced sharing my personal journey. It was also such a treat to be reunited with the doctors who played such a major role in my care then and now.”

The stories also reflected a sense of urgency as Georgia faces growing rates of cancer diagnoses. The disease is the second-leading cause of death in the state, and it claimed 18,435 lives in 2023, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

“One of the cancers that nationwide we’re seeing a higher rate in younger people is colorectal cancer,” Curran said. “Colorectal cancer is unfortunately a common cancer and how we’re addressing it is to strengthen our colorectal cancer screening, which we do in partnership with Piedmont’s great primary care network.” 

In response to these trends, Piedmont has focused on expanding screenings and specialists to offer support to more patients across the state.

“The importance of expanding cancer screenings, clinical research trials and our own network of specialty providers all comes down to one answer–our patients,” Jill Gossett, Piedmont Healthcare Foundation Officer of Events & Gifts, said. “Screenings help us identify cancers much earlier in individuals which almost always translates to better treatment options and better outcomes.”  

Building on that focus, Curran stressed that expanding screenings and specialty care also depend on strengthening the workforce and infrastructure to support more trials.

“We’re already in the process of [hiring more personnel] but [these funds] will accelerate our ability to do that,” Curran said. “We also need stronger infrastructure in Atlanta in order to expand the number of trials because these trials really offer patients a new hope for types of cancers and stages of cancer.”

Gossett added that widening trial availability is central to ensuring patients don’t have to travel out-of-state to access the most groundbreaking treatments being explored.

“And pursuing additional physicians to care for various forms of cancer helps alleviate the unfortunate overload of patients and can speed up the process for a person and their care,” Gossett said. “It all boils down to the fact that this combination of screenings, clinical trials and physicians translates into better care, faster care and better treatment options for those facing this fight.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 2 million new cancer cases nationwide in 2025. In Georgia, researchers believe this is due to regional and racial disparities in access to screening and care. As Piedmont expands their research infrastructure, Curran emphasizes the importance of ensuring advancements reach every community the system serves, especially groups that have historically faced barriers to cancer screenings and treatment.

“If you look at the 14,000+ cancer patients that are diagnosed each year across Piedmont, approximately one-third of those are self-described as Black or African American,” Curran said. “We view that as both a responsibility and opportunity to ensure that all patients, regardless of age, race, location, access to care, have an opportunity for the best possible care. So recruitment of specialists across the state enables that.”

Even with new investments in research and technology, physicians still emphasize that awareness and prevention remain essential in reducing cancer rates.

“Number one remains tobacco use, but the great news is tobacco use has declined substantially, both in the US and internationally,” Curran said. “The second… is diet associated with obesity as well as the content of the diet. And the third preventable cause of cancer is alcohol consumption. So the key on all of those is to have people have greater awareness. Most people know [the most common preventable causes of cancer], the key is supporting people in lifestyle improvement, both at the employer level, community level.”