American Cancer Society Grant Impacts MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center Patients
December 27, 2022
The American Cancer Society awarded a $7,500 grant to MercyOne Des Moines Foundation to address the transportation needs of MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center patients. Funds from this grant were focused on addressing unmet transportation needs of cancer patients, particularly for vulnerable populations experiencing an unequal burden of cancer.
Transportation programs like this are vital to help all patients get the treatment they need and deserve. Many patients struggle with the additional financial burdens that come with a cancer diagnosis, including former MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center patient, Jane.
Jane is from a very rural part of Iowa, 135 miles away from Des Moines, and not close to any other cancer facilities. She was diagnosed with a very curable cancer and her treatment required six weeks of combined chemotherapy with radiation therapy. When the treatment plan was discussed, Jane and her spouse initially declined based on the travel logistics and cost to their fixed retirement income. The American Cancer Society grant helped cover the cost of her travel to Des Moines and she was successfully able to complete her treatment and is currently cancer free.
Without the help from this grant, Jane most likely would have had substandard or no cancer care at all. Many other cancer patients, like Jane, have been supported through this grant. Since it was awarded in February 2022, more than 75 MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center patients have been supported.
The American Cancer Society has a mission to free the world from cancer. They fund and conduct research, share expert information, support cancer patients and spread the word about prevention. For more about the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
For more information on how you can support current MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center patients contact Joan Bindel, MercyOne Des Moines Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy, at 515-643-8020 or JBindel@mercydesmoines.org.
