In 2018, when we hosted our first Survivor Fitness Soirée in Knoxville, we recognized how meaningful it was to celebrate participants and remind our supporters how they were making HOPE possible. 

Last month, we had the opportunity to host our fifth annual Survivor Soirée in Knoxville. The evening was a special time for us to join together and honor cancer survivors in our community. We celebrated the impact of our participant’s hard work, recognized our special Survivor Fitness honorees, and shared some exciting news about the future of our organization.

Highlights from the 2023 Knoxville Survivor Fitness Soirée 

The generosity of our Knoxville community is truly inspiring. This year’s event raised over $120,000 to support the needs of cancer survivors in Knoxville. Their generosity will help us to provide essential services and support to cancer survivors and their families. 

Special thanks to our sponsors for this year’s event: FirstBank, FirstBank Investment Partners, Axle Logistics, Peyton Cherry Fine Homes, Revitalyze MD, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Tennessee Orthopedic Clinics, CBi, Rachael Wedkind Hones, Citizens Bank and Knoxville Dermatology and Plastic Surgery.

Celebrating This Year’s Honorees: Shawyn King and Dani Lorson

A special part of the evening is recognizing individuals who have made an impact on this community. In 2023, we honor Shawyn King and Dani Lorson as our Survivor Fitness honorees. Dani is a professional dancer and leukemia survivor who had cancer for multiple years before joining our program. After going through 30 rounds of radiation treatment for breast cancer, Shawyn joined the Survivor Fitness community to regain her strength and see what life could look like after cancer. Both women are inspiring examples of strength and resilience in navigating life after cancer. 

Watch the video below to hear more about each of their journeys: