Curling event raises $14,000 for Cancer Assistance Fund

AMHERST, NS (2010) – On Friday evening March 19th, an on-going annual competition based upon looks and talent took to the Amherst Curling Rink to prove that beauty is not just skin deep but resides deep within the heart of the players.    With an aim to help Cumberland County cancer patients in their battle with cancer, the Good Lookin’ Guys, skipped by Don Smith, and the Better Lookin’ Guys, skipped by Carl Leblanc raised their brooms high while dressed in Celtic garb to raise more than $14,000 for the cause.
The Cancer Assistance Fund of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation was originally launched in June 2009 with the initial assistance request coming in early July through the Cumberland Health Authority’s Cancer Navigator Program.      

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.

“During the first 2 months, only one request per month was received,” continued Gauthier, “however as the Cancer Navigator program became more widely known, the requests have been growing to an average of 6 per month and we do expect that the demand will continue to grow as more and more patients seek guidance and assistance through the local health authority's Cancer Navigator.”

(Left to right:  Curt Speight, Stu Colson, Mitch Estabrooks, Carl LeBlanc, Donnie Smith, Robert Bird, Joe Dupuis, and Brian Wood).

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.  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.   The CHA Cancer Navigator deals primarily with residents of Cumberland but is able to assist with locating the appropriate resources in other geographic areas.

Since inception, the Foundation has been able to respond to and fund 32 requests for assistance through the Cancer Navigator Program.   Approximately $9,000 has been issued to help 19 cancer patients over the initial 9 months of the program.   “It’s always surprising and a pleasure that people can be this generous,” said the Cumberland Health Care Foundation’s Managing Director, Joe Gauthier.  “Cancer touches people in different ways and the money raised will help fulfill patient needs in ways such as transportation to and from hospital, medical supplies, and nutritional supplements.”

“We’re deeply honored”, said Gauthier “that such a great group of guys would support the Foundation’s Cancer Assistance Program and have gone to great lengths to bring both awareness of the Fund, the Cancer Navigator Program, and needed resources to help cancer patients in Cumberland.

Donations to the Cancer Assistance Fund can be made at the Cumberland Health Care Foundation office located at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, by calling 902 667-5400 ext. 6210 or by visiting the website www.chcfoundation.com.