New Name for the Cancer Assistance Fund
Cumberland Cancer Assistance
It’s like having a party and everyone goes to the wrong address. “We’ve had patients needing our services who had trouble finding us, and donors who wanted to help with this worthwhile and much needed fund and they couldn’t find us either,” said Holly Chapman, Cancer Navigator for the Cumberland Health Authority. “It seems that we were often confused with the Cancer Society which is unfortunate because our program is so much different than what they offer in our community.”
Recognizing the need to differentiate the Cancer Assistance Fund from other Cancer organizations, the fund has now been renamed Cumberland Cancer Assistance. “People will now know that this fund serves residents of Cumberland County exclusively, and it does exactly what it says: it provides assistance directly to those cancer patients that need help,” said Cumberland Health Care Foundation Managing Director Gwen Kerr.
Cancer can be expensive. Families find that they are suddenly faced with expenses they could never have imagined: travel to and from appointments in Halifax or Moncton, pre-treatment dental care, special nutrition, treatment-related equipment, and more. Often patients can no longer work and their families must take time off to care for them. For many the financial burden is immense. Unfortunately if your annual income is $15,700 or higher, you are considered ineligible for many provincial programs. And for all the good work that they do, organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society do not provide financial assistance directly to Cancer patients in Nova Scotia. For seniors, single parents, and even married couples with children – they may earn enough to get by, but earn too much to qualify for assistance programs when Cancer strikes.
Cumberland Cancer Assistance helps with expenses associated with travel to and from treatment appointments, food & nutritional assistance, medical supplies and other areas identified as being required to maintain the health of the cancer patient when all other avenues of funding have been exhausted. Patients may either be referred by their doctor or may contact the Cancer Navigator themselves (no referral required) (902) 667-6424 or toll-free 1-866-524-1234.
Since 2009 this fund has helped with more than 55 patients here in Cumberland County and the need is growing. Recent statistics indicate that Cancer will affect 1 in 4 people within their lifetime and that number is creeping toward 1 in 3.
“You can’t know what’s going to occur in life but knowing there’s a fund that can help should something happen is comforting,” said Kerr, “The Foundation’s Cancer fund has been a Godsend for many people in this county and we are in tremendous need of donations to keep up with the demand.”
Donations to Cumberland Cancer Assistance can be made online by clicking the "Donate Now" icon or by visiting the Foundation office located near the main entrance of the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre. Donors may make donations in memory or in honour of loved ones, and may even set up a monthly giving plan. There are many options for giving to this important fund. For more information please contact the Cumberland Health Care Foundation at (902) 667-5400 ext. 6126 or 6210.
