August 28, 2009

Turlock, Legacy Circle, Emanuel Medical Center's annual giving program, kicked-off its final year of a three-year campaign yesterday to fully fund the $4 million Emanuel Cancer Endowment.

Established in 2007, the community-funded endowment is a permanent fund that will generate a quarter of a million dollars annually for regional cancer services. Over the past two fundraising years, the community has donated $2 million for the endowment. These dollars, coupled with this year's announcement of a $1 million matching gift from the Ahlem family, brings the 2009 goal to $1.5 million. Over the next six weeks, Legacy Circle volunteers will work to raise the remaining dollars for the endowment.

The Community and Emanuel Employee Volunteers gathered to launch the year-three campaign yesterday at Emanuel Medical Center where they were able to see a few of the faces directly affected by their annual efforts: 63-year old breast cancer survivor Sandi Kemps; 38-year old breast cancer survivor Britt Kelleher; and Britt's six-year old daughter Paige Kelleher.

"When I heard that I had breast cancer, I can honestly say that I've never been so shocked in my life," said Kemps. "There isn't a history of cancer in my family and I never thought I was going to need people like [Legacy Circle Members]. Having such a high level of advanced technology and care in my hometown meant that I was able to drive myself to treatments and go home to rest afterwards. It truly helps your healing to go home opposed to staying in a strange hotel. Cancer can happen to absolutely anyone...no one can say they aren't going to get cancer."

Paige Kelleher read a book she wrote about her mom going through cancer and her own time spent in "Monkey Business" - a support group at Emanuel for children whose loved ones have been diagnosed with cancer. When referencing her mother having cancer, Paige expressed how sometimes bad things happen in life, but she optimistically recalled how there are also a lot of good things in life.

Britt Kelleher spoke about her journey of discovering she had cancer to her full recovery, and how she has been brought back into her normal life. "I'm coaching my daughter's softball team. We are going on a camping trip. I'm able to go to the gym. I'm able to live my life," said Britt Kelleher.

Sandi Kemps, Britt Kelleher and Paige Kelleher represent the inspiration for this year's fundraising efforts, "From Discovery To Recovery - Bringing People Back Into Their Lives."

The Emanuel Cancer Endowment funds services such as: outreach and prevention, early detection, screenings, support groups, genetic risk assessment, counseling and testing, clinical research, and participation in national clinical trials.

"We know that with the community's help, we will fully fund Legacy Circle's Emanuel Cancer Endowment," said Shirley Pok, Vice President of Development for Emanuel Medical Center "History has shown us that we can do it. Since Legacy Circle came to fruition eight years ago, the community has helped us raise over $10 million for their medical needs, such as a new birthing center, emergency room and now the Emanuel Cancer Endowment."

For more information about Emanuel Medical Center, visit www.emanuelmedicalcenter.org.