Spectrum Health Announces Health Headliner for LaughFest 2013

Dr. Bernie Siegel Part of LaughteRx Series

Spectrum Health has announced that Bernie Siegel, MD, will be the keynote health headliner for LaughFest 2013.

Siegel, an internationally known physician, author and patient advocate, will speak at the LaughteRx event presented by Spectrum Health on Wednesday, March 13, at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids.

“Spectrum Health is proud to bring Dr. Bernie Siegal and his inspirational message of hope and healing to Grand Rapids through our support of LaughteRx,” said Steve Heacock, senior vice president, community relations. “Gilda’s Club provides extraordinary support to our cancer patients, and I believe Dr. Siegal and comic Scott Burton can help all of our patients and the community appreciate the healing power of laughter and emotional health.”

As a part of his keynote presentation at LaughteRx, Dr. Siegel will share his journey as a physician who has cared for and counseled individuals whose mortality was threatened by illness. In 1978, he reached an international audience when he began talking about patient empowerment. To support this work, Siegel launched ECaP (Exceptional Cancer Patients). The program offers a therapeutic approach to treatment called Carefrontation, which helps patients interpret their drawings, dreams and images to express their feelings about the healing process. Siegel believes that the physical, spiritual and psychological benefits that emerge from this treatment strengthen the immune system, a direct response to the power of the mind-body connection about which he has written and spoken extensively.

Opening for Dr. Siegel is Scott Burton, an award-winning comic, champion juggler, author and cancer survivor. Burton’s high-energy and entertaining program goes beyond the fear of cancer or struggle in life and calls for joy, laughter and expression of self every day. His story is about finding perspective, finding our hearts, our laughter and humanity within the cancer battle and beyond. Since overcoming his illness, Burton has brought his message of the human side of the cancer experience to health care professionals and survivors nationwide.

“We are delighted to have Spectrum Health as a partner and sponsor of the LaughteRx headliner,” said Wendy Wigger, vice president of communications, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. “We think Bernie Siegel and Scott Burton are a perfect addition to the festival. They add an entertaining, informative and deeply meaningful element to this year’s festival.”

The LaughteRx Series, which was launched last year, features speakers and activities that highlight the health benefits of laughter and its importance in emotional health. Last year’s featured keynote was Dr. Patch Adams. The names of additional LaughteRx Series presenters will be announced at a later date.

LaughFest 2013 will include 200 plus free and ticketed shows that feature over 60 artists at 40-plus venues in Grand Rapids, Lowell and Holland during the 10 days of the festival. Ticketed shows will range in price from $7 to $55.50, excluding the signature fundraising event. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com (search LaughFest), by calling 800-745-3000 or at the Van Andel Arena or DeVos Place box offices. LaughFest opens March 7 and runs through March 17.

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. In its inaugural year, more than 55,000 people attended the festival. Attendance for the second year of LaughFest was 56,294. More than 40,524 tickets were sold to the various events and visitors came from 25 states and Canada. The two-year income stream from the festival and the signature dinner events have totaled more than $540,000. All dollars raised support the free cancer, grief and emotional health programs offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Visit www.laughfestgr.org or call 616-735-HAHA (4242) to learn more about Gilda’s LaughFest.

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is a free cancer and grief support community of children, adults, families and friends. Its comprehensive program includes education, structured sharing times, networking, lectures, workshops and social activities. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids is the largest and busiest of the 52 affiliates in North America. The organization runs entirely on charitable donations and currently serves more than 10,000 individuals each year at its clubhouses in Grand Rapids and Lowell, Mich., in various schools and in five community centers. For more information, visit www.gildasclubgr.org.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 700 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,000 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.