PARKERSBURG -Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo kicked off with strokes of bright hopes Friday night at Camden Clark Medical Center.
Artist Amy Ocasio of Parkersburg said the event's kickoff Friday was going good. Ocasio estimated 30 to 40 volunteers showed up to offer their painting expertise.
Kim Couch, with the Camden Clark Foundation, said the support from the community has been overwhelming in transforming chemotherapy rooms into tranquil, lovely and healing environments.
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Photo by Mandi Cardosi
Surgeon Dr. Tuan Nguyen paints one of the chemotherapy rooms at Camden Clark Medical Center Friday night during the Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo project. He was joined by about 40 other volunteers.
"We have volunteers here this weekend to paint the rooms," she said. "We will be doing detail work (on the walls of each room) next weekend."
Couch said more than 100 pieces of art and detail work had been donated for Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo. Sherwin-Williams of Vienna donated the paint for the project. The goal is to make the rooms serene and tranquil.
"Some patients and families have to sit in here all day," she said. "We want to create a positive environment for anyone undergoing treatment."
Couch said she hopes the positive energy from the bright paintings and support of the community will help patients to heal.
Debbie Stout, sponsor and team captain for one of the rooms, said she has been touched by cancer.
"I've been here with my father and husband," said Stout. "It's an unspoken brotherhood you develop with not only the staff (at the hospital) but the other patients."
Couch said each room will have a theme. The hope is from "Hawaiian" to "Fuzzy Friends" the variety of color and artwork will touch each patient going through treatment, Stout and Couch said.
Couch said the project started about two months ago, and all volunteers and hospital workers have been working diligently. Designer Tammy Brady said she began coordinating the rooms with donated artwork and color palettes months ago.
"I love to help," she said. "It's for a good cause."
Autumn Moore of Vienna said volunteering to paint was a no-brainer for her, because she has lost family members to cancer. Moore helped raise "thousands" of dollars for Rooms That Rock.
"It's uplifting," she said. "Good for the soul."
Sue Goldcamp was painting in honor of a friend who lost a daughter to cancer. Her team, Team Yeardley, enjoyed making the room brighter for cancer treatment patients.
"If a little bit of bright paint will help patients' spirits, I'm all for it," she said.
