Fox Chase Cancer Center wound up spooky season in style on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. For the fourth year in a row, contestants from across Fox Chase joined with colleagues at TUH – Jeanes Campus to celebrate with a parade and costume contest. The contest accompanied the Pumpkin Decorating Contest (also in its fourth year), which was going on nearby in the space outside of the Leidy Auditorium.
The contest is run by the Fox Chase CHEER – Cultivating High Engagement and Employee Recognition – Committee. CHEER Committee judges included Jeremy Moore, Melissa Schrier, Kristen Ragusa, and Blaine Dinkin.
“They really stepped up their game this Halloween,” said Schrier. “Just when we thought we’d seen it all, this year’s contestants surprised us — the costumes were incredibly cute and creative, and several even added a song or skit that brought an extra special touch!”
For the first time, group costumes dominated the celebration, including two separate collections of Spice Girls (modeled after actual kitchen spices, not manufactured British pop singers) and a set of Three Blind Mice.
“We wanted costumes we can use in the Infusion Room that wouldn’t get in the way as we worked with patients,” said Kristine Gohl, an infusion nurse and seasonal mouse aficionado. “Our patients loved our costumes this morning, and one of them helped us choreograph a little three blind mice dance.”
Gohl, accompanied by Jill Samson and Amanda Brennan, created a trio of visually impaired rodents who would later rock their way down the cafeteria ramp before performing their dance for the judges.
The contest involved three categories: full costumes, neck-up attire for those who could not necessarily wear a full costume during the workday, and remote entries from staff at network locations. The contestants gathered in Fox Chase’s Center Building lobby, where they conducted the now-traditional parade across the way to the TUH-Jeanes Campus cafeteria (Dozens of other faculty and staff members dressed up at network locations that same day.).
Following a quick loop around the cafeteria before the delighted and bewildered lunch crowd, the contestants posed in front of the Center Building for a group shot before lining up at the entrance of the Fox Chase cafeteria.
The centerpiece, each year, is the walk down the cafeteria ramp before the judges. This year, the cafeteria was particularly festive, with spooky paper decorations and black-and-orange tablecloths. A DJ pumped classic rock, funk, and soul music to enable contestants to maximize their struts. While some danced before the judges, others gave a full costumed twirl, while one human piñata exploded into sugary delights (well, she threw candy at the judges).
“Our teams really outdid themselves this year; the creativity and camaraderie were on full display,” said Joshua Lahav, Vice President of Cancer Center Operations, and this year’s announcer. “I kept the program on track, but it was hard not to get caught up in the energy and excitement of the crowd. Engagement events like these remind us how strong our culture is when we come together to have fun as a team.”
The winners of the full costume portion of the contest received Amazon gift cards for $100, $50, and $25 for first, second, and third place, respectively:
- 1st Place: Piñata – Nicole McCusker (Infusion)
- 2nd Place: Jack & Sally (“Nightmare Before Christmas”) – Marie Fraioli (EKG) and Mike Jones (Jeanes Maintenance)
- 3rd Place: Dr. Zaius (“Planet of the Apes”) – Alex Kowit (IT)
Two winners were announced in the neck-up costume category, receiving a $100 Amazon gift card for first place and a $50 card for second:
- 1st Place: Three Blind Mice – Kristine Gohl, Jill Samson, Amanda Brennan (Infusion)
- 2nd Place: Rosie the Riveter – Lori Stonek (Infusion)
Faculty and staff stayed well connected in fun and creative ways. Contestants from network locations submitted photos of their festive fashions. Winners also received Amazon gift cards for $100, $50, and $25 for first, second, and third place, respectively:
- 1st Place: Group Submission with Assorted Costumes – Meneko Spigner-McBeth, Karen Chavez, Denice Cruz, Ruby Hewitt, Mikhayla Starke, Jaimie Geddes (Fox Chase – Voorhees)
- 2nd Place: Good Eggs – Abhishek Aphale and Maria Hicinbothem (Fox Chase – Huntingdon Pike)
- 3rd Place: Social media sensation “Pam from Port Richmond” – Megan O’Donnell (Fox Chase – Huntingdon Pike)