Cancer Assistance Fund Celebrates 2nd anniversary -
Over 50 cancer patients in Cumberland helped

AMHERST, NS (June 13, 2011) – Over 50 cancer patients in Cumberland County have benefitted from donations made to the Cancer Assistance Fund of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation since the fund was created two years ago.  More than $42,000 in funding assistance requests has been approved to help patients with the costs related to travelling for treatment, nutritional assistance and medical supplies.
“I hear about, and see, the need nearly every week,” said Holly Chapman, Cancer Navigator for the Cumberland Health Authority, “and there are literally no other funding programs out there that will help someone with an annual income over $15,700.  Sometimes even people who are below that income level still need help because not everything you would think is covered.  The Foundation’s cancer fund has been a godsend for people in this county.”

Cancer Navigators work closely with family doctors, cancer specialists as well as community cancer services to coordinate optimal care.  They are one of the first points of contact for patients who are diagnosed with cancer and they enhance the community’s capacity to support people with cancer and their caregivers.

Designed to provide a helping hand when all over avenues of funding have been explored and/or exhausted, the Cancer Assistance Fund helps to fund transportation for treatment, food & nutritional assistance, and other areas as identified by the Cumberland Health Authority’s Cancer Navigator as being required to maintain the health of the cancer patient. 

“We’re so thankful to our donors who have been helping.  We know there are constant asks in the community from many different charities,” said Gwen Kerr, Chair of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation.  “Donations made to the Foundation’s cancer assistance fund are used to help cancer patients here – at home in our county.   We’re continuing to see a real need in our own community to help someone get to Halifax or Moncton for treatment, for food, nutrition, and medical supplies.”

In an effort to raise monies to continue helping cancer patients locally, organizers of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation’s annual golf tournament have added the opportunity for six golfer pledge teams to come on board.   “We’re redesigning our tournament,” said David Wood, Honorary Chair of the 2011 Highland Classic Tournament, “primarily we’re out to highlight that it is a “charity” tournament dedicated to helping people in our community.” 

Golfer teams this year are also being offered the option of foregoing the cost of their souvenir kits so as the monies can be put towards helping a cancer patient.  “If you stop to think about it,” continued Wood, “what’s going to make a golfer feel better.  A free golf shirt or promotional item or knowing that somewhere in our County, they helped someone be able to afford gas to get to cancer treatment or be able to have food for their family because the cost of cancer sometimes forces difficult decisions to be made in the family unit.”  

Pledge team registrations are now being accepted by contact the Foundation directly at 667-5400 ext. 6126.
 
Cancer patients can either be referred by the family doctor involved or by contacting the Cancer Navigator directly (no referral required) (902) 667-6424 or toll-free 1-866-524-1234.   Although the CHA Cancer Navigator deals primarily with residents of Cumberland she is also able to assist with referrals to another cancer support specialists in other geographic areas.

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