FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 1, 2021
THE CANCER FOUNDATION ADDS PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS TO SERVICE ELIGIBILITY The Cancer Foundation Board of Directors announces the addition of pediatric cancer patients to the Foundation’s service eligibility. ATHENS, July 1, 2021—The Cancer Foundation (TCF) announces an important change in our Financial Assistance Program. Effective July 1, 2021, we will offer financial assistance to pediatric cancer patients living in our 25-county service area. TCF’s service eligibility had included adult cancer patients. TCF’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to expand the organization’s footprint to serve pediatric cancer patients at their May 2021 meeting to further our mission to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer for eligible patients. Board Treasurer Lisa Rawls explains, “The Cancer Foundation is so excited to expand our financial support to our community’s pediatric cancer patients and their families! We are encouraging our current donors and others in our community to come alongside us financially to support these families who need not only our community’s emotional support but our financial support as well.” Since 2009, The Cancer Foundation has provided over $2.5 million in direct financial assistance to over 4,000 eligible cancer patients in treatment or hospice with basic life needs such as rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, transportation costs and medications. Patients request assistance via referral from their cancer care provider or by contacting TCF for instruction on how to apply. “From the beginning, our hope was to grow to meets the needs of those in our community suffering from the financial stress of cancer treatment. Thanks to the generosity of our many donors and sponsors, we are now able to add pediatric cancer patients to our program,” says TCF Executive Director Laura Lowery. Kirk Smith, TCF Board member, was on the board committee that studied whether or not to make the change. “Our mission as a Foundation is a simple one, to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer. Every topic we discuss as a board uses that mission as our guide. The fact that we are now financially stable enough to include pediatric cancer patients makes this decision an easy one - and the right one.” Dr. Cindy Mercer, a TCF Board member and retired physician, also recommended the expansion plan. “I was a big proponent of serving pediatric cancer patients. Families with children battling cancer are heavily impacted by the financial burden of cancer. These families incur expenses due to traveling for appointments, high cost of medications, work absences of parents, and many other factors. I am proud to tell our community we are now serving these families in need.” The Cancer Foundation is set to host a new annual event this coming fall called Race to Beat Cancer. Race to Beat Cancer will be a 5K/10K race taking place on Saturday, August 28th at Athens Medical Specialty Park. “After a year like 2020, The Cancer Foundation is excited to host our annual events in 2021. We feel re-energized to raise even more money for cancer patients and their families in need in northeast Georgia,” says Gabby Dukes, TCF’s Assistant Director. Register for Race to Beat Cancer here: https://www.active.com/athens-ga/running/distance-running-races/race-to-beat-cancer-5k10k-2021. All proceeds benefit TCF’s Financial Assistance Program. Follow The Cancer Foundation on Facebook and Instagram for continued updates!