Ovarian cancer survivor and professional vocal coach, Debra Michaels, along with over a dozen of her vocal students – ages 5 through 18 – delivered 350 care bags and performed holiday songs for cancer patients and clinicians at the Washington Township campus of Jefferson Health’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in December.
In 2017, Michaels had surgery to remove her cancer and credits Jefferson Health surgeon Dr. Robin Wilson-Smith, who specializes in gynecologic oncology, with the success of the surgery and the clean bills of health she continues to receive.
Michaels, from Sicklerville, and her students (some of which have performed on Broadway, Walnut Street Theater) started delivering care bags and performing at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center – Washington Township in 2019.
Each year, the vocal students raise the money to purchase the care bag items (toiletries, blankets, socks, snacks, entertainment) through concerts, raffles and other fundraisers they hold throughout the year. Each Thanksgiving break, the vocal students gather with Michaels to put the bags together and create cards that accompany each bag.
