Autumn Moore, owner of the Paradise Grille in Vienna, strongly believes in the mission of Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo.
The program, started by Nancy Ballard of San Francisco and adopted locally this year, transforms drab chemotherapy rooms into vibrant and soothing places where patients receive treatments. The goal is to provide a sense of calm and tranquility for cancer patients and their families to aid in the patients' healing process.
Moore held a silent auction Thursday evening at her restaurant to raise money for the Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo program at Camden Clark Medical Center. Moore is sponsoring a chemotherapy treatment room at Camden Clark in memory of her husband, Tim, and Elinor Fenton.
Five of nine chemotherapy rooms and the conference room have sponsors at CCMC.
As part of the program, 70 paintings and photographs have been donated to brighten the chemotherapy unit.
The hospital has begun remodeling the chemo unit, during nighttime hours, and expects to finish by Sept. 1.
After that, nine teams of local volunteers from Rooms That Rock 4 Chemo will spend two weekends hanging artwork and painting the rooms.
People wanting to sponsor a room or help cover other costs can contact Kim Couch at the Camden Clark Foundation at 304-424-2200.
Artists interested in submitting paintings or other artwork for the chemotherapy rooms and adjacent areas can contact Amy Ocasio, project manager, at 304-483-3265.
More than 5,000 chemotherapy treatments are administered each year at Camden Clark Medical Center.
Nearly 1,000 cancers are diagnosed annually at CCMC, officials said.
Moore was pleased by the "wonderful outpouring of love and support" displayed at Thursday's benefit. About 200 people attended.
"Cancer is a bad predator that we need to get rid of," Moore said.
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I enjoyed talking tennis with Dan Warner and John Barr Sunday at the 37th annual Greenmont Open in Vienna.
The Greenmont Open, at the Greenmont Racquet and Swim Club on 55th Street, is the third oldest tennis tournament in West Virginia, said Barr, Greenmont president and general manager.
Warner, a 1971 graduate of Parkersburg High School, where he was a standout tennis player, has been a tennis coach on the high school, college and recreational levels. Warner is a member of the West Liberty University Athletic Hall of Fame and a three-time WVIAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year. He has coached tennis at the University of Charleston and East Tennessee State University.
Warner lives in Hobe Sound, Fla., where he teaches physical education at the elementary school. After school, he teaches in youth basketball, track and tennis programs.
Warner said he enjoys his visits to Wood County to see family and friends. "I loved it here," he said.
He remembers helping to install the Har-Tru tennis courts at Greenmont in 1971. That year, Greenmont had eight outdoor tennis courts and a trailer - with a "bubble" placed over two courts for winter play. The club has since added an indoor tennis facility.
Warner worked at the North Hills Swim and Racquet Club in 1974-76, where there were several outstanding tennis players, he said.
Bill Warner, Dan's father, helped the tennis programs grow in Wood County starting in the 1960s.
"Bill Warner revved up tennis here," Barr said. "He was a doer."
Dan Warner and Scott Barr won the 45 and older men's doubles title at this year's Greenmont Open.
"Dan is a smart tennis player," John Barr said, comparing him to a chess master.
"There have been lots of great tennis players in this area," Warner said.
Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com
