Texas Cancer Center's 8th Annual Tea Celebrates Survivors

Cancer survivors filled a Texas ballroom this weekend with laughter, fancy hats, and extended pinkies as the Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center hosted its eighth annual High Tea celebration.

The elegant event brought together people who share one powerful thing in common: they've faced cancer and come out the other side. Among the guests were Gloria and Howard Persky, a couple who first met in a nutrition class at Canopy and chose this very celebration to mark the beginning of their new life together.

Linda Nelson, director of Memorial Hermann - The Woodlands, and Marcella Herrera, Canopy's program manager, welcomed attendees to the festive gathering. Music as Rx, a local traveling orchestra that started with just one student playing piano for seniors, provided live music throughout the afternoon.

The event showcased what makes Canopy special: it's not just about surviving cancer, but about building community and joy afterward. Guests dressed in their finest attire, sipped tea in grand tradition, and shared stories of hope and healing.

The celebration ended with a surprise that had everyone smiling. One lucky person from each table won an extravagant floral centerpiece from Piney Rose Flowers & Decor to take home.

Sunny's Take

What started as a nutrition class became a love story for Gloria and Howard. That's the magic of spaces like Canopy, where people don't just recover from illness but find new reasons to celebrate life. When survivors gather not to talk about what they've lost but to toast what they've gained, healing takes on a whole new meaning.

For eight years running, this tea party has reminded everyone that cancer may change your story, but it doesn't have to write the ending.