| Women Golfers
Raising Support For Cancer Patients
By Elaine Stiles, Development Office Volunteer
Standing by the sign in photo (l. to r.) are Cynthia
Blood (with Forest Moon);
Timothy J. Ryan, Jr., Tournament Fund Raising Chair;
Judy Manley, Tournament Chair;
and Agnes Mikijaniec, nurse manager of the BMH oncology
department.
For over 20 years, the Brattleboro Country Club Women’s Golf Association has hosted an annual Invitational Golf Tournament for women in July.
It has always been a great day for women golfers and, for the last several years, has benefited hundreds of women in Southern Vermont suffering from breast cancer.
A minimum donation of $50 entitles the giver to a professionally designed sponsor sign placed on the tournament course to honor a friend, a cancer survivor, in memory
of a loved one, or simply to support the cause. Over $20,000 of the proceeds from these tournaments have been donated to the Oncology Fund, which is a ‘buffer’ fund for
breast cancer patients during their treatment.
Many women who require radiation cannot continue to work during the treatment.
They often require 5-6 weeks/5 times per week for radiation
in Keene or else where for services that cannot be provided
in Brattleboro. According to Agnes Mikijaniec, Breast
Program and Oncology Department Manager, over 25% of
patients spend their savings completely during their
treatment program. The assistance provided by this fund
is invaluable in helping patients keep up with rent
payments, heating oil, food, gas money (for the extensive
travel required for radiation treatments), freeing them
to focus on their recovery.
The tournament organizers and participants felt strongly
that they wanted to do something for women in the local
area and make a visible difference in their lives. Diane
Bassett, one of the many volunteer organizers, calls
it a “wonderful day for women” – those on the course,
and those who benefit from the generous donations to
the tournament. If you are interested in sponsoring
a hole, please call Diane at (802) 254-2031. You may
also donate directly to the Oncology Fund to support
BMH cancer patients, by calling the BMH Development
Office at (802) 257-8314.
In this issue:
|
