Battling cancer on multiple fronts

On a sunny Wednesday morning in late June, dozens of local elected officials, St. Charles board members, community leaders, health care professionals, cancer survivors and interested citizens gathered on a vacant parcel south of our Redmond hospital to ceremonially break ground on a new St. Charles Cancer Center.

It was a really neat event. Attendees could walk the footprint of the new building and read about the different services that will be provided. Of course, some of us lined up and symbolically stuck a bunch of shovels into dirt. Most importantly, we had a chance to mingle and talk, face to face, with key stakeholders not only in this project, but in the future of cancer care in Central Oregon.

Also, all in attendance were invited to write meaningful words - "hope" or "healing," for example, or the name of a loved one affected by cancer - on a smooth stone about the size of a golf ball. Those stones were collected at the end of the event and will be incorporated into a permanent art installation inside the cancer center.

I was holding my stone in my hand and speaking to the crowd when I got choked up. It has been 40 years since my mother died of cancer. Grief is a fickle friend. On that sunny Wednesday morning, I just happened to be standing on a stage and holding a microphone when the feeling hit me. I know I am not alone - that almost all of us know someone whose life has been affected by cancer. I was touched by how many guests approached me afterwards and shared their uplifting and inspiring stories.

Healing and recovery take time, for survivors and for families. Creating healing places and supporting excellence in cancer care is a critical role St. Charles plays in our growing region. The new facility will be a major component of that effort, serving 300 or more cancer patients every day. I'm excited to see the project complete and to open our new facility. Yes, mom would be proud.

Which reminds me: St. Charles Foundation's annual Heaven Can Wait 5K run/walk is happening in Redmond again this year, on Sunday, Oct. 6. This is the 25th year of the event, which raises money for Sara's Project, a fund of the foundation that provides education, early detection and support services to ease the challenges of breast cancer for people in Central and Eastern Oregon.

It's a fun time for a great cause. And this year, in honor of Heaven Can Wait's 25th year, organizers are hoping to raise an additional $25,000. So please visit HeavenCanWait.org today to learn more about the event and sign up to participate.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Sincerely,
Steve

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