Dr. Charlotte Gardiner becomes 40th American Cancer Society Living Angel

AVON — Saturday marked a special anniversary for the American Cancer Society's Life Savers Ball and Living Angel Award, as the event celebrated its 40th anniversary and the society named Dr. Charlotte Gardiner as its 40th Living Angel Award recipient. Although the Living Angel award was not always a part of the event, the 40th iterations lined up to make the 2026 ball even more magical. Befitting its milestone status, the 40th Living Angel Award went to a woman who has not only spent her career advocating and caring for those fighting cancer, but also one who lost her own mother to breast cancer and defeated the same disease herself later in life. "Like so many in this room, I remember the moment I heard 'You have cancer,'" Gardiner said. "The rush of thoughts, emotions, fear of the unknown. What do I do next? How do I tell my children? Am I going to make it? I honestly don't remember much after my doctor told me I had cancer. I remember telling myself, 'Char, take a breath. Just try to listen.' And then the doctor said, 'We are going to fight this.' And we did." After graduating from Elyria Catholic High School and Lorain County Community College, Gardiner became a nurse, but from there she only continued her professional and academic development. Gardiner is now the president of Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital. She previously served as president of University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center in 2015 and Mercy Health Allen Hospital in 2018 and oversaw the Mercy Health Cancer Center. Life Savers Ball Committee Executive Lead Dr. Alex Zolli said that he has known Gardiner since she was a young nurse and has long seen firsthand the profound impact she has had on patients. Zolli said that Gardiner's impact on cancer patients included seeking out new methods of treatment and recruiting the best cancer care providers to her hospitals. She also obtained investments for these programs, mentored nurses in dealing with patients and even used her own money to transport patients to treatments they otherwise would have missed. "Her actions represent a holistic approach, demonstrating that compassionate care reaches beyond the clinical walls to every detail of the patient experience," Zollis said. "Her passion to make things happen in a positive way guides her mission and those who work alongside her. She knows much has been done, but even more must be accomplished." As a child, Gardiner lost her mother to breast cancer, and she had to face the disease herself at the age of 47, overcoming it after seven surgeries in four years and untold hours of therapy. "She serves as a true role model," Zolli said. "She is a cancer survivor whose quiet strength speaks for those in need. She has touched the lives of people who do not know her personally. She prefers this 'no headlines' approach. She exemplifies the Living Angel." After receiving the award, Gardiner said she had always worked to advocate for her patients and her nurses, and to provide the best care she possibly could. Surviving cancer herself, she said, only made these principles stronger. She encouraged all those in attendance at the event to continue to use their own stories and journeys with cancer to continue the fight. "For all of you here supporting the Life Savers Ball, you are truly making a difference," she said. "My call to action is to ask each one of us to continue to let our journey shape us, even though we don't fully understand or appreciate the why. To turn nos into yeses by asking how and by continuing to use our voices to make a difference." Following her speech, Gardiner took a group picture with 20 other past Living Angel Award recipients. The presenting sponsor of the 2026 Life Savers Ball was the Dan and Mila Reaser Foundation, and Director Dan Reaser spoke prior to the awards. Like Gardiner, Reaser also lost his mother to cancer, and he called on those in attendance to share their own stories with the disease as well. "Tonight is the opportunity for us to all come together, for us to all be able to share our stories, to be able to talk about our past and our futures in a spirit of hope," Reaser said. "... One day, someone will hear the words, 'you have cancer.' And instead of fear, my hope is that they will simply know how to treat it, they will be able to live a long and healthy life and be able to share that with other people and give inspiration to other people." The American Cancer Society is accepting nominations for the 2027 Living Angel Award. Nomination letter highlighting a nominees journey and contributions can be mailed to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Living Angel Nominee at 10501 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106 or emailed to Suzan.Piskur@cancer.org.