Piedmont Newton hosts powerful tribute in first-ever Cancer Survivor Celebration
Published: June 25, 2026
Covington, Ga. (June 25, 2026) - On June 13, cancer survivors – including a graduate student and another survivor who has undergone 47 surgeries – gathered at Legion Field along with guests, staff, and volunteers for Piedmont Newton’s inaugural Cancer Survivor Celebration, a powerful tribute to resilience, connection, and life beyond cancer.
Attendees enjoyed a catered lunch, connected with community resources and care teams, shared messages on a memory wall, and captured special moments in a photo booth. Local vendors provided giveaways and raffle prizes.
The celebration featured remarks from survivors, including Joey Tripp, executive director of the Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia. Tripp was diagnosed with stage 4 osteosarcoma (bone cancer) when he was just 10 years old. After 24 years of remission, the cancer returned to his lungs last year. To date, Tripp has undergone 47 surgeries, including a femur transplant, spinal fusions, and lung resections. He discussed the difficult transition from surviving cancer to thriving.
“Cancer may change the road, close some doors, and force you to adapt,” Tripp said. “But it doesn’t define you. You are the author of your whole story.”
Cancer survivor Owen Abeles also shared his journey. Diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his first semester at Oxford College of Emory University in 2022, Abeles underwent six months of chemotherapy at Piedmont Newton while continuing his studies. He is now in remission, pursuing a master’s degree in bioethics, and starting a nonprofit focused on cancer survivorship. He is also applying to medical school and hopes to become an oncologist.
“I’m choosing to pursue a career in oncology because I care not only about what happens during treatment, but what happens after,” Abeles said. “My healing has come from using my experience to help other cancer survivors be seen.”
Hospital leaders celebrated the strength of survivors and highlighted the importance of having oncology services in Newton County.
“As a hospital, we are continuing to grow cancer services so patients can access high-quality care close to home,” said Lindsey Petrini, CEO of Piedmont Newton. “I’m inspired by the patients who trust us with their care and grateful for their loved ones, doctors, nurses, and staff.”
Abeles also expressed gratitude to his care team. “When I think back to ringing the bell after I finished treatment, I don’t think of it as a sound of personal success,” he said. “I think of it as an echo of all the people, communities, and caregivers who helped me get to where I am today. I’m very thankful for my doctor, Chukwuma Ndibe, and for the nurses, navigators, and staff for the care, comfort, and belonging they provided.”
Piedmont Newton plans to make the celebration an annual event moving forward.
To learn more about cancer care at Piedmont, visit Piedmont.org/cancer.
Attendees enjoyed a catered lunch, connected with community resources and care teams, shared messages on a memory wall, and captured special moments in a photo booth. Local vendors provided giveaways and raffle prizes.
The celebration featured remarks from survivors, including Joey Tripp, executive director of the Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia. Tripp was diagnosed with stage 4 osteosarcoma (bone cancer) when he was just 10 years old. After 24 years of remission, the cancer returned to his lungs last year. To date, Tripp has undergone 47 surgeries, including a femur transplant, spinal fusions, and lung resections. He discussed the difficult transition from surviving cancer to thriving.
“Cancer may change the road, close some doors, and force you to adapt,” Tripp said. “But it doesn’t define you. You are the author of your whole story.”
Cancer survivor Owen Abeles also shared his journey. Diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his first semester at Oxford College of Emory University in 2022, Abeles underwent six months of chemotherapy at Piedmont Newton while continuing his studies. He is now in remission, pursuing a master’s degree in bioethics, and starting a nonprofit focused on cancer survivorship. He is also applying to medical school and hopes to become an oncologist.
“I’m choosing to pursue a career in oncology because I care not only about what happens during treatment, but what happens after,” Abeles said. “My healing has come from using my experience to help other cancer survivors be seen.”
Hospital leaders celebrated the strength of survivors and highlighted the importance of having oncology services in Newton County.
“As a hospital, we are continuing to grow cancer services so patients can access high-quality care close to home,” said Lindsey Petrini, CEO of Piedmont Newton. “I’m inspired by the patients who trust us with their care and grateful for their loved ones, doctors, nurses, and staff.”
Abeles also expressed gratitude to his care team. “When I think back to ringing the bell after I finished treatment, I don’t think of it as a sound of personal success,” he said. “I think of it as an echo of all the people, communities, and caregivers who helped me get to where I am today. I’m very thankful for my doctor, Chukwuma Ndibe, and for the nurses, navigators, and staff for the care, comfort, and belonging they provided.”
Piedmont Newton plans to make the celebration an annual event moving forward.
To learn more about cancer care at Piedmont, visit Piedmont.org/cancer.
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