A NEW GIFT OF HOPE
Local entertainers raise funds for County cancer patients

(shown in the photo are left to right: Left (Larry Ogden of Pik'n Grin, Holly Chapman CHA Cancer Navigator, Kyle Legere of Pik'n Grin, Cheryl Smith Cumberland Health Care Foundation Board Member, and Eileen Lewis of Pik'n Grin).

AMHERST, NS (September 18, 2009) Pick’n Grin is known for its ability to raise funds for many charitable causes through its hosting of musical nights at the Tidnish Community Centre.  “This is our 8th year,” said member Larry Ogden, “we’ve raised and distributed over $100,000 to people in need as well as many charities.  When we heard about the Cancer Assistance Fund we wanted to do it because it meant that what we raised would help people with cancer here in Cumberland.”

The musical group raised $725 for the Cancer Assistance Fund of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation on September 15th.   Launched in mid-June by the Cumberland Health Care Foundation, the Cancer Assistance Fund provides funding through the Cancer Navigator program to assist cancer patients when all other funding programs have been explored or exhausted. 

In discussing the donation, Ogden spoke quietly about how they’ve all lost someone to cancer that were at one time involved with music in the area.  “I can’t say it enough,” he said “when you’ve seen it happening to someone you know, when the money or support just isn’t there to help – this is why we chose to do something for the Cancer Assistance Fund.  People shouldn’t have to go through the additional stress when they’re sick.”

Cancer Navigators work closely with family doctors, cancer specialists as well as community cancer services to coordinate optimal care.  “I wish this had been there when my father was dying of cancer,” said Eileen Lewis of the Pick’n Grin musical group, “a person who could have helped us through the system.” 
 
As one of the initial points of contact for patients who are diagnosed with cancer, Cancer Navigators enhance the community’s capacity to support people with cancer and their caregivers.  “The quality of service and information sharing appears to have been made much more readily available,” she continued, “and having a local cancer assistance fund to directly help those who need it is really important to the community.”
“Things can get really tight financially for some people when cancer hits,” said Cumberland Health Authority’s Cancer Navigator, Holly Chapman, “the most common thing I hear about is the cost of travel for treatment.”    She further explained that each patient’s challenges are unique to the type of cancer being fought and other items such as the treatment costs involved, the geographic location of where treatment can be obtained, a person’s income level, and what can or cannot be funded by programs out there.

“We’re thankful to everyone who has been sending in donations to the Cancer Assistance Fund,” said Foundation chair David Wood, “because people have been doing so we’ve been able to start directly helping people with transportation costs for treatment and nutritional costs related to health.  We expect the demand will increase as the Cancer Navigator Program and the assistance fund becomes more well-known.  We hope that people will continue to give because it truly does make a difference for these people in their fight.”

For those wishing additional information on the Cancer Navigator Program, simply call 902 667 5400 ext 6424 – no referral required.    Donations to the “Cancer Assistance Fund” can now be made online at www.chcfoundation.com, by indicating it during In-Memoriam donations, or by visiting the Foundation office located near the main entrance of the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.