At first glance, you might agree that the winning entrant for the Pulmonary Care group had gone too far this year. Sure, their moving, roaring King Kong, atop a cardboard Empire State Building, Barbie Fay Wray in claw, was a technical achievement – but where was the pumpkin?
Fear not! That was no mere stuffed gorilla suit; that was multiple fur-bedecked pumpkins, including a big pumpkin with a wig and foam clay features on a turntable simulating the mighty Kong’s angry grimace. Indeed, his apish pectorals were 100% squashy (and furry).
“Frankly, the height of it all kept me up nights,” said Christine McCullough, a respiratory therapist. Indeed, because of the height of the table relative to the drop ceiling outside of Leidy Auditorium, they needed to lop off the very top of the antenna-like structure of their Empire replica. “We made a commitment to try hard, as a team, and I think we have achieved that.”
CHEERing Up Everyone’s Spirits with Creativity and Fun
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, more than 20 masters of the “pumpkiny” arts from across Fox Chase Cancer Center and network sites as well as TUH-Jeanes Campus took part in the 4th Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. The rules were simple: the base of the display had to be no greater than 24 by 30 inches, and each entry had to be work-appropriate. The entries were judged by a group from the Fox Chase CHEER – Cultivating High Engagement and Employee Recognition – Committee. CHEER Committee judges included David Arney, Meghann Hainsworth, Brianna Amato, Jessica Spiegler, and Towanda Record.
“We have pumpkins that light, pumpkins that move, and pumpkins that roar,” said Record. “There is an unbelievable amount of creativity on display, which makes judging difficult.”
The entries ranged from the adorable Winnie the Pooh Hunny Pot pumpkin to the boldly metaphorical Research Archipelago, featuring an intricately carved pumpkin sailing ship navigating between islands marked with research compliance hazards.
This year, Radiation Safety entered both the pumpkin decorating contest and the costume contest, which occurred nearby in the cafeteria, for their timely “radioactive shrimp” theme, ripped from the headlines following reports of contaminated frozen shrimp. Jessica Rodgers, Kendall Berry, and James Hambor wore full-body shrimp pajamas as they stood by their pumpkin where Rodgers had the difficult, delicate task of carving a classic radiation symbol in their painted pumpkin. “The circle in the center was the hardest part,” she admitted, “one slip and you’ll ruin the entire thing.”
Much like the costume contest, the pumpkin decorating contest was visited by a fair share of patients, including Marge R., who was told to visit while at an appointment earlier in the day. She loved the cute face of the Fox Chase – Temple Urologic Institute’s Ms. Cathe-fur Fox and the colors of the Johnson Lab’s poisoned apple, but was quick to praise the white-haired scientist from the Protocol Support Lab.
“I think it reminds me of all the science Fox Chase is known for and how that makes better medicine,” Marge said. “And the free candy is good, too.”
And the Winners Are…
The contestants were divided into two broad categories: onsite and network site teams. Winners received gift cards for $100, $50, and $25 for first, second, and third place, respectively:
Onsite Winners:
- 1st Place: “King Kong” – Fox Chase Pulmonary Care Department
- 2nd Place: “Spooky Speedway” – The Whitaker Lab
- 3rd Place: “Columbo”– HR Compliance
Network Site Winners:
- 1st Place: “Day of the Dead” – Fox Chase – Voorhees
- 2nd Place: “Cowboy” – Fox Chase – Fort Washington
- 3rd Place: “Dunkin” – Fox Chase – Huntingdon Pike Dermatology