With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it seemed a good time to review the support Kootenai Health and the Foundation provides to local cancer patients. There are walks, fun runs, and other local events which are a great way to build awareness and show moral support for patients and survivors.

At the Kootenai Health Foundation, support is provided to patients in a variety of ways. From new facilities, equipment and technology, to providing rides to appointments, our history of cancer support runs deep. In fact, the North Idaho Cancer Center, completed in 1987, was built from community gifts. Later, in 2006, the Cancer Patient Support Fund was established, providing patients with financial support and helping to meet their basic needs during treatment. More than 2,200 patients have benefited from this resource.

Gifts help to support breast imaging services, chemo caps for patients experiencing treatment-related hair loss, gas and food gift cards, prescription costs, lung cancer screenings, rental assistance, and much more.

All of this is provided through groups and individuals in the community who are so willing to give in support of our patients. Some of those include:

- A recent estate gift from Philip and Edith Reed to provide an endowment for Cancer Services.

- Each year Chicks n’ Chaps, in conjunction with the North Idaho State Fair and Gem State Stampede, donates from their events to the Cancer Patient Support Fund. This year marked the 10th year of their generosity and hard work.

“We are proud to say all the money we raise benefits local patients, it’s very fulfilling to know we’re helping people right here in our community,” Ann Siebert, Chicks n’ Chaps co-chair, said. “This year we celebrated our 10th year supporting the Kootenai Health Foundation and the North Idaho State Fair Foundation. We’ve been able to donate over $66,000 to support local cancer patients.”

- Another wonderful group is the 3Cs (Cancer and Community Charities). This group of more than 600 members has one of the longest giving legacies with the Foundation, giving more than $334,000 over the years. One of their founding members, Ellen Walden, helped establish Kootenai’s Walden House. The Walden House offers affordable (or sometimes free) housing for patients and their families while they receive treatment.

“While we raise money for a variety of charities, our roots are in cancer support. I don’t think there is even one of our 600 members whose life hasn’t been affected in some way by cancer,” Barbara Newland, 3Cs president, said. “We have a lot of people in our community who need help through a very difficult time. We may not be able to treat patients, but we can generate support to help them.”

Community Cancer Fund (CCF), out of Spokane, has donated over $100,000 to Kootenai Health over the years. They are the lead organization that is building the all-new Hospitality Center which will include a Ronald McDonald House as well as a new Walden House.

There are many ways to support our cancer services and local patients. You can make a gift directly to the Foundation or attend events whose funds go back to a local charity. Kootenai Health is hosting an event called Pamper Me Pink on Oct. 24 at the Hagadone Event Center. Half of all the proceeds benefit Cancer Services. You can learn more and register at kh.org/events/pamper. And as always, we are happy to talk with you about ways to give to cancer services locally. Contact the Kootenai Health Foundation at (208) 625-4438 or visit kh.org/foundation.

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Julie Holt is President of the Kootenai Health Foundation.