“I might burst into song. Who knows?” jokes Stephen Carter-Hicks, a former Broadway actor who performed with the touring production of “Cats.” While Stephen doesn’t plan to sing as part of his duties hosting the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) Summer PHling, he plans to make the Aug. 1 event “a fun afternoon filled with wonderful and touching moments.”
Stephen, who was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in 2010, is a member of the Northern Virginia Support Group and a PHA volunteer.
“It’s important for people to see what PHA does for the community,” he says, noting that PHA staff and volunteers have provided inspiration and comfort during his challenging moments. “At every event, they are always asking what they can do to make people comfortable, always caring about others.”
Although Stephen laments that the PH community couldn’t meet in Anaheim for PHA 2020 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions, he says the Summer PHling is “a good reason to get up on a Saturday.”
In addition to honoring volunteers who have helped keep the community together during this challenging time, Summer PHling will feature a virtual version of PHA’s traditional fashion show. Watch PHers walk the virtual catwalk, showing off how they flaunt or conceal face masks, oxygen tanks, pumps and mobility devices. The event begins at noon EDT Saturday, Aug.1.
Stephen promises the event will lift spirits. “I’m going to try to make people laugh,” he says. “It’s hard to laugh when you have a fatal lung disease. When you add the pandemic, it’s a double-edged sword. But you have to laugh. I live my life with laughter. It’s a great medicinal healer.”
Join us for this celebration of unity and resiliency in the PH community. Register now.
