Give Healing Generosity this Christmas: The Semon Fund

Christmas is a season of generosity and a time to uplift and support those around us that need a helping hand. The William J. Semon Family Resource Fund provides healing generosity to patients at MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center during their time of need.

The moment someone hears “You have cancer,” everything changes. Instantly, priorities shift from routine activities to the sole focus of going through a cancer journey. The Semon Fund directly and immediately supports cancer patients with the additional financial burdens and added expenses of cancer treatments, co-pays, travel, medication, nutritional supplements and more.

The fund was created in 2011 by MercyOne Des Moines Foundation Board Member, Linda Semon, in memory of her late husband, Dr. William J. Semon, a gastroenterologist at Iowa Digestive Disease Center at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.

“The morning after Bill passed away I was asked where I wanted memorial donations to go, and the thought that came to mind was that I wished I could take whatever was donated and go to the cancer center and just give it to patients who were struggling,” said Linda.

The purpose of the Semon Fund is to bring relief and hopefully a little joy to patients who are facing a difficult financial situation. Since its creation, the fund has impacted more than 800 cancer patients.

“The Semon Fund is exactly what I wanted it to be,” said Linda. “It provides help and support directly to patients for whatever it is that they happen to need.”

“We are able to take a little bit of the pressure off today so that patients can concentrate on getting better.”

Your gift could be just what a cancer patient needs this Christmas.

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For more information on how you can support cancer patients in need this Christmas season, contact MercyOne Des Moines Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy, Joan Bindel, at 515-643-8020 or JBindel@mercydesmoines.org.