A ceremony and ribbon-cutting marked the official dedication of Lakeland HealthCare’s new Marie Yeager Cancer Center Thursday.

More than 300 guests toured the two-story, 30,000-square-foot center located in the Lakeland Health Park in Royalton Township, St. Joseph. The cancer center will provide a single location for most cancer care needs, including medical oncology, a pharmacy, laboratory services, a health and appearance center, holistic support services, lymphedema therapy and clinical research. The facility will open to patients July 11.

“Those who will receive care here will benefit not only by the convenience and coordination of their interdisciplinary care, their experience will be marked by more comfort, more confidence, and more hope,” said Dr. Loren Hamel, president and CEO, Lakeland HealthCare, in his opening remarks during the ceremony.

Myrna Hunt, a breast cancer survivor and musician, shared her personal story about fighting the disease followed by a moving instrumental version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on the piano by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Later in the program, a marble sculpture by renowned artist Fritz Olsen of Sawyer, Mich. was unveiled in the cancer center’s Healing Garden. Martha Cares, a nationally regarded soprano opera singer and wife of Olsen, sang a song for which she had written the lyrics in honor of the occasion and unveiling.

The cancer center is named after Marie Yeager, a long-time oncology nurse at Lakeland. Her husband, Tom, recalled her dedication and passion for caring for her patients.

“This cause was very dear to her heart, and our family knows she would be proud to continue to make a difference for southwest Michigan patients affected by cancer,” Yeager said.

Lakeland HealthCare is a non-profit, community-owned health system, which includes four hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, rehabilitation centers, long-term care residencies, hospice, home care services and physician practices. Lakeland has nearly 4,000 employees who provide clinical and support services at locations throughout southwest Michigan, and partners with approximately 400 affiliated physicians and other providers.

For more information, visit www.lakelandhealth.org.