Business community unites to share smiles with retail therapy event

PALMER — It’s pretty unusual for a business to give back to the community in the rest of the world. Here in the Valley, it’s pretty common. Now, Valley Radiation Therapy Center has joined the list in a big way.

Last weekend, they sponsored the “Spring Retail Therapy Event” in downtown Palmer March 28. It provided a lot of smiles and some good deals, too.

Diana Matukonis, marketing director for Valley Radiation, said, “no strings attached, this is 100 percent our way of saying thanks to our patients, cancer survivors and the families of cancer patients.”

More than 25 local retailers really made this retail therapy. Vagabond Blues offered free lunches and Non-Essentials provided lessons in making probiotic drinks. Madd Matters visitors could paint their shoes then walk over to The Gallery for 25 percent off everything in the store. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center set up on the sidewalk and offered hot chocolate to the windswept crowd. There was something for everyone and a lot of smiles on the faces of folks who had suffered deeply.

Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of the event was the presence of Care Tuk, author of “Loose Screws and Skinned Knees,” at Fireside Books. Tuk is a 14-time cancer survivor and is also a motivational speaker. A deep well of strength and compassion would be a good description for this woman.

“This kind of thing, you know, in the real world, really makes a difference. It’s a chance to smile,” said one cancer survivor.

Smiling seemed a very important part of the day.

Greg Gusse is an artist, writer and cancer survivor who lives in Palmer.