Angel Fund: Help for Those Who Need It
- Category: Cancer Blog
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The Shannon Oncology Center’s Angel Fund is designed to assist patients in times of critical, short-term financial need during their course of treatment when no other form of financial assistance is available. Assistance is provided for, but not limited to, transportation, lodging, travel expenses, food or nutritional supplements, and medications.
"This special fund was created in 2012 to help our patients overcome barriers to treatment," says Katie Hill, LCSW, oncology social worker. "Navigating a cancer journey is a difficult process. We want our patients to have everything they need in order to fight their battle. If we can take away some of their financial stressors in order for them to do that, we will."
Supporting Our Community
The Angel Fund has helped many patients in a variety of ways over the last nine years. With money raised through the Shannon Sporting Clay Shoot, Tee Off for Ta-Tas Golf Tournament, the Shannon Associate Annual Fund Campaign and donations from members of the community, the Angel Fund has been able to assist patients in countless special ways.
"Any of our patients that are actively receiving treatment are eligible to receive help through the Angel Fund," Katie says. "We have had a lot of people come back and tell us that without the financial assistance, they physically would not have been able to get treatment for their illness. For some patients, I have helped arrange every ride they take to come to the Oncology Center. The Angel Fund makes this possible."
Going Above and Beyond
Financial assistance is not limited to travel, lodging and medication needs. Special circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis when distributing funds to oncology patients.
"Cancer treatment schedules can be very physically taxing," Katie says. "A lot of our patients are unable to work as much as usual; we are able to provide money for their utility, water and other bills they are stressed about paying. We've even helped pay for things such as phone bills so they can continue to receive calls about labs and treatment plans. Anything we can do to eliminate them not being able to come up here and have treatment is something we help with.
"I’ve been working within the Oncology Department for over five and a half years now," Katie says. "I can’t picture doing anything else, and it’s all because of things like the Angel Fund that we get to do to help improve our patients’ cancer journey."
We’re Here for You.
Patients can talk to their oncology provider or contact Katie at the Shannon Oncology Center at 325.481.2025 to learn more about financial help.
