For individuals and families navigating the uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis, support can feel just out of reach. But The Gathering Place, a Cleveland-based nonprofit, looks to change that with the launch of HOPE: a 28-foot mobile outreach vehicle designed to bring essential services directly to those who need them most.
HOPE, which stands for Healing, Opportunities, Peace, and Empowerment, offers a fully customized experience on wheels. Inside the van, individuals can receive private consultations for many of The Gathering Place’s services, including professional wig fittings, at no cost.
“We are reaching people in the midst of their cancer journey, often at their most vulnerable, and showing up with resources, empathy and a commitment to walk beside them every step of the way,” said Michele Seyranian, CEO of The Gathering Place, who first envisioned the project after joining the organization in 2019. “We want to do all we can to enhance quality of life, that’s what we’re all about.”
The HOPE unit delivers a broad range of holistic wellness support. From one-on-one emotional guidance and educational materials to healing arts, nutrition and movement-based practices, it’s designed to create a mobile sanctuary for individuals impacted by cancer, regardless of age or stage. Friends, family members and caregivers are also welcomed with open arms.
Staffed by trained professionals and volunteers, the HOPE van will visit neighborhoods, libraries, community centers and places of worship throughout Northeast Ohio on a rotating basis. The goal is simple but vital: meet people where they are and ensure no one has to face cancer alone.
The Gathering Place and Community Impact
Before becoming CEO, Seyranian had a long and deeply personal relationship with The Gathering Place. When her daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer as a young child, it was the organization’s medical librarian who helped connect her family with top specialists across the country. That early experience left a lasting impact. Seyranian went on to serve on the organization’s Board of Directors for nine years, co-chaired major benefits, and helped shape the organization’s strategic plan. When founding director Eileen Saffran retired, Seyranian was invited to step into the role.
“It’s a labor of love,” she said. “This place has walked with me through some of my hardest moments. Now I get to help shape how it walks with others.”
The HOPE Mobile was officially launched on April 30, 2025, the result of both community need and deep organizational reflection. Seyranian developed the idea after analyzing participant data and identifying that many individuals, particularly those living in Cleveland’s Ward 5, were struggling to access the organization’s locations, The Gathering Place East in Beachwood and West in Westlake. Ward 5 had some of the highest rates of breast and prostate cancer, late-stage diagnoses and mortality.
“Some of the highest incidence of cancer are within Ward 5 of Cleveland,” Seyranian shared. “We’ve got to do something. We’ve got to figure out how to get our services out into the community.”
Ward 5, which includes Central, Kinsman, Midtown and some of Broadway/ Slavic Village, has some of the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the city of Cleveland. According to public health data, between 2009 and 2013, the ward recorded approximately 565 new cancer cases and 370 cancer-related deaths per 100,000 people — far above citywide averages, according to the Cleveland Department of Public Health.
Health experts point to systemic disparities as key drivers: A 2024 statewide study found that Ohio census tracts with higher environmental burdens, including air and water pollution, experience markedly higher cancer incidence. Communities with more racial and ethnic diversity face exacerbated risk, according to a study available through the National Library of Medicine.
Systemic factors like economic hardship, housing instability, lack of health insurance and mistrust in healthcare systems contribute to later-stage diagnoses and poorer outcomes.
Addressing cancer disparities requires more than medicine. As Seyrenian explained, “It’s not just about biology,” she said. “It’s about where people live and what resources they can access.” Her words point to a larger truth — that geography, history and systemic inequities all play a role in shaping health outcomes. “We saw that Ward 5 was not only facing higher cancer rates, but people were being diagnosed later, when treatment is harder and outcomes are worse.”
The HOPE Mobile was designed in part to help close that gap. By showing up in under-resourced neighborhoods and offering no-cost, high-quality support, the van is a form of health justice on wheels.
Inspired by a conversation with a physician who mentioned that some patients were turning down chemotherapy out of fear of hair loss, Seyranian saw the potential for mobile wig salons and more. The concept gained momentum when Seyranian joined forces with journalist and cancer survivor Regina Brett and WKYC’s Danielle Wiggins, who helped launch an initial fundraising campaign that raised $43,000.
The mobile approach, Seyranian noted, allows The Gathering Place to go beyond the limitations of brick-and-mortar buildings. Equipped with wigs, exercise supplies, cooking materials and staffed with bilingual and licensed professionals, the van can deliver emotional, physical and social support to communities across Northeast Ohio.
For more than two decades, The Gathering Place has aimed to be a trusted haven for people navigating the cancer experience. With free programs and services to aid the social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of individuals and families, the organization wants to be deeply rooted in community care.
A Story of Strength: Vonita’s Community Shows Up
Before her diagnosis, Vonita Burke had supported The Gathering Place through a close friend who worked there and by participating in Race for the Place, an annual 5K fundraiser supporting the organization. She knew of The Gathering Place and valued its mission.
During her first cancer diagnosis in 2023, Vonita stayed positive. She recovered from surgery and endured chemotherapy, navigating the unknown with strength and hope. But less than two years after being told there was “no evidence of disease,” she received a second, devastating diagnosis, triple-negative breast cancer. She’s still being treated. This round has been harder physically and emotionally.
“Even with support, cancer can feel isolating,” Vonita shared. “Sometimes I just don’t want to worry people.” Despite being surrounded by loved ones, she’s often felt alone in her experience, grateful but solitary.
That’s what made the moment at Race for the Place so powerful. As she turned a corner at the event, Vonita was surprised to see her community, family and friends all gathered in her honor. They had shown up unannounced, with signs, cheers and unwavering love.
“It caught me completely off guard,” she said. “I turned the corner and there they were. It reminded me how much love I’m surrounded by even when I forget to lean on it.”
Vonita continues to anchor herself in daily practices of presence. Her granddaughter is a steady source of joy, asking about her energy, handing her stuffed animals and seeing her as “Nina,” not a patient.
Yoga is another foundation, helping Vonita shift her mental focus away from cancer and toward the moment. A longtime practitioner, she draws from Kundalini yoga traditions and commits to a spiritual discipline known as sadhana, where she repeats the same affirmation or phrase for 40 days. Her current mantra is simple and powerful: ‘Do it scared.’ That reminder helps her continue forward despite fear, anchoring her in purpose and presence each day
“I try not to wake up every day thinking about cancer,” she said. “I just deal with what’s in front of me, moment by moment. That’s how I stay grounded.”
She’s attended The Gathering Place’s Sister Circle, a support group for women of color navigating cancer. “It was powerful to be in a space where I didn’t have to explain so much,” she said. Vonita also emphasized the importance of spreading awareness among other Black women. “More Black women need to know these services exist,” she said. “They’re free, and they’re for us too. I want others to feel seen and supported.”
Supporting the Mission: Race for the Place
The HOPE project is fueled by donations and the generosity of community partners, with funds helping to stock the van with wigs, wellness items and educational tools. One of the biggest sources of support is The Gathering Place’s Race for the Place held this year on Sunday, June 1, at Beachwood Place. The 5K and 1-mile walk brings together survivors, families and supporters for a day of hope and healing.
As Seyranian emphasized, none of this would be possible without the support of the community. From individual donors and family foundations to church fundraisers and neighborhood businesses pledging a percentage of sales — every contribution fuels the mission. Hospitals and social workers across the region also play a critical role by referring patients and families directly to The Gathering Place.
“We’re a very grateful organization,” Seyranian shared. “Every dollar that walks through our door, we do our best to put to work. It’s the community that sustains us financially and emotionally and we are committed to serving them in return.”
To learn more about HOPE and The Gathering Place’s free cancer support services, visit the organization’s site . To register for Race for the Place, visit the race website.
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