A table covered in pink ribbons, family photos and educational materials draws attention inside the cafeteria at Kettering Health Dayton.

For Max Richardson, a Nutrition Services employee and breast cancer survivor, the display is more than a Breast Cancer Awareness Month decoration.

It’s a reflection of her journey, a tribute to loved ones affected by cancer and a reminder for others to prioritize potentially lifesaving screenings.

“People might think October is Halloween. For me, it’s cancer,” Richardson said.

Richardson, who has worked at Kettering Health Dayton for a little more than a year, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 after a routine mammogram led to additional testing.

The diagnosis changed her life.

“I cried and cried,” Richardson said. “It still didn’t process.”

Within weeks, she underwent surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Today, Richardson continues to share her story with coworkers, visitors and anyone willing to listen.

Her message is simple.

“Everybody needs to get checked. Check, check, check,” she said.

That message is at the center of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month display she created in the cafeteria. Filled with survivor messages, family photographs, awareness ribbons and informational pamphlets, the exhibit honors those affected by cancer while encouraging others to learn more about screening and early detection.

Richardson said she wanted the display to do more than catch people’s attention. She wanted it to start conversations.

“A lot of people come and say, ‘Max, that’s nice,’ ” Richardson said. “Even visitors will say, ‘Who did the table?’ “

When visitors stop to ask questions, Richardson often shares details of her own experience and encourages them to prioritize screenings and preventive care.

The display reflects a commitment to caring for the whole person, creating opportunities for education, support and connection while advancing Kettering Health’s mission to live God’s love by promoting and restoring health.

Richardson’s coworkers say the display has become both a source of education and encouragement.

Latia Green, retail supervisor for Nutrition Services at Kettering Health Dayton, said Richardson’s creativity became apparent soon after she joined the team.

When seasonal decorating contests were held in the main lobby, Richardson participated and won multiple times. A little-used table in the cafeteria eventually became her canvas.

“She spends her own money. She buys all her items. That’s just something she loves to do, and we love it,” Green said.

Green said employees from across the organization regularly stop to admire Richardson’s work.

“A lot of people love it because they said it brought some brightness to the cafeteria,” Green said. “It brings brightness to everybody in the hospital.”

The display also has strengthened a friendship between Richardson and fellow Nutrition Services employee Wanda Dix.

The two discovered they shared more than a workplace when they began talking about their experiences with breast cancer. Through conversations about diagnosis, treatment and recovery, the coworkers developed a close friendship rooted in mutual support and understanding.

“We bonded through our cancer journeys,” Dix said. “She told me how she felt going through it, and I shared how I felt.”

Dix, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, said the display serves as an important reminder that cancer can affect anyone and that early detection can save lives.

“The doctor told me, ‘Thank God you came in when you did,’ ” Dix said. “If I had waited another year, I might not be here.”

The exhibit includes photographs contributed by employees whose families have been affected by cancer, helping visitors see the disease’s reach and impact.

For Richardson, those personal touches are important. Cancer has affected generations of her family, including siblings, parents and other relatives. Those experiences continue to fuel her advocacy and her desire to encourage others to seek regular screenings.

“Please, please, please go get checked,” Richardson said. “Don’t take anything for granted.”