Mississippi Baptist Medical Center to celebrate cancer survivors with butterfly release

WHAT: Mississippi Baptist Medical Center will release butterflies in honor of cancer survivors and National Cancer Survivors Day. This free event, open to cancer survivors, their families and supporters, will feature live music from Mississippian Raphael Semmes.

WHEN: Thursday, June 4, 2026
4 p.m.

WHERE: Baptist Cancer Center Serenity Garden
1227 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39202

BACKGROUND: National Cancer Survivors Day is held annually on the first Sunday in June. The commemoration celebrates and inspires cancer survivors, recognizes those who have supported cancer survivors and serves as a call to action for further research, more resources and increased public awareness to improve the lives of cancer survivors.

Named the No. 1 hospital in Mississippi seven years in a row by U.S. News & World Report and included on Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 “Great Hospitals in America” list, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center is one of the most decorated hospitals in Mississippi. MBMC has 638 licensed beds and includes Baptist Cancer Center-Jackson and a six-level tower housing the Cardiovascular Center and Baptist for Women, which is Baby-Friendly USA accredited. The hospital has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellent care, including multiple recognitions from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology in 2025 and 15 High Performing Hospital designations from U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026. MBMC signed a shared mission agreement with Baptist Memorial Health Care in May 2017, making Baptist Memorial one of Mississippi’s largest employers and the largest health care system in the state. For more information, visit baptistonline.org/mbmc or follow us on www.facebook.com/mississippibaptistmedicalcenter.

INTERVIEW/PHOTOGRAPHY OPPORTUNITIES:

Deniece Ponder, RN, regional oncology director, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center
Raphael Semmes, cancer survivor

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