The “cancer stars” were out this weekend.
The Long Beach Cancer League hosted its Reach for the Stars Gala on Saturday night, June 3, during which the nonprofit honored eight people who have been touched by cancer. And those folks also got to tell their stories — including two longtime Southern California News Group journalists.
Columnists Rich Archbold and Harry Saltzgaver were among those who spoke about their experiences with cancer during the nonprofit’s annual fundraising gala, which took place at the Museum of Latin American Art.
Archbold, the Press-Telegram’s former executive editor and current public editor, was diagnosed with melanoma in January 2022. It’s been a bumpy journey these last 18 months. But Archbold, who chronicled that journey in a series of columns, is now cancer free.
Saltzgaver, meanwhile, is the former executive editor of the weekly Grunion Gazette, and he has continued penning his “Pinch of Salt” column for that publication and the P-T. He lost his father to cancer in 2009. A day after father and son learned of the cancer diagnosis, the elder Saltzgaver died.
They both shared their stories in recent columns.
Rich’s column: “My roller-coaster cancer journey has a happy ending.”
Harry’s column: “I was with my Dad when he died from lung cancer. Here’s the story.”
As for the Cancer League, for much of its existence, it raised money — more than $11 million — for the American Cancer Society. But earlier this year, the nonprofit announced the money it raises will now be reserved for geriatric and youth cancer treatment programs at MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
Saturday’s gala is the league’s marquee fundraiser.
The other people who were honored for their contributions in the fight against cancer are:
- Fay Abed, whose mother died from stomach cancer in 2006. Her elder sister died from colon cancer in 2017, at 60 years old. Abed has been…
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