In its continued effort to ensure that expert cancer treatment, early detection programs, and vital support services are available to the residents of Ascension Parish, the Gonzales Area Foundation recently donated $80,000 to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales. The funds will be used to provide services and programs at no cost to cancer patients and their families.
One of the programs that will benefit from the donation is the Cancer Center’s survivorship initiative, which helps ensure patients and their families have access to advanced supplementary care in the form of support groups, exercise classes, educational events, and much more. A portion of the proceeds are directed toward the Cancer Center’s Prevention on the Go program, which provides prevention, education and early detection services, including the successful Live Well Ascension event. These services help to detect cancer in its earliest stage when better outcomes are more likely.
“The Cancer Center’s ability to extend vital resources to patients and their loved ones is in large part due to generous community advocates like the Gonzales Area Foundation,” said Todd Stevens, president and CEO, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “Since 2016, the Foundation has contributed more than $700,000 to the Cancer Center to ensure that those residing in Ascension Parish have access to world-class cancer care close to home. We are extremely grateful for the Foundation’s tremendous support throughout the years to further advance the Cancer Center’s mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer.”
“Survivorship services are a key element of comprehensive cancer care and we are proud to be able to help fund these services locally for our Ascension Parish residents,” said DeEtte DeArmond, a founder of the Gonzales Area Foundation. “Being able to raise this amount of money during a difficult time shows the commitment this community has to helping one another. We look forward to continuing our support in the years to come to help provide vital services for patients, survivors and their loved ones.”