Kosciusko Community Hospital recently donated $5,000 to the K21 Health Foundation’s Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund. The money will be used to put on two fundraisers. From left: Cancer Care Fund Board Member Dave Mayer, KCH Cancer Care Center Director Hugh Gerard, Cancer Care Fund Board Member Ron Smock and KCH Chief Nursing Officer Kim Finch and CEO Jae Dale. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund has received a boost courtesy of Kosciusko Community Hospital.

The hospital recently donated $5,000 to the fund, which is administered by the K21 Health Foundation.

The money which KCH provided will help with two upcoming fundraisers the fund is having.

“One is for our (Halloween) 5K run, which is Oct. 30, which starts over at the (K21 Health Services) Pavilion,” said Cancer Care Fund Board Member Dave Mayer. “And then the other part is going for our dinner auction … that’s on Sept. 11 at The Owl’s Nest (in North Webster).”

Mayer was grateful for the donation.

“It’s excellent because all of the monies go to the community and with that money, we pay their rent, car payments, utilities or whatever their needs are at the time to help them get through their chemo treatments or whatever they’re doing,” he said.

Mayer said the fund annually helps about 100 people and distributes more than $120,000.

“These funds are so meaningful for the individuals. It’s not just for the cancer care fund because we don’t take anything for it, (it) all 100% goes back,” he said.

KCH CEO Jae Dale noted the hospital’s relationship with Cancer Care Center isn’t new.

“We have historically (given regularly to the fund),” he said. “We’ve participated in events that they’ve had.”

“I think it’s a great partnership,” he added. “Obviously they were created when KCH was acquired and I think it’s some of the best use of money that they could use. They help patients in the community you know whether they use our cancer center or not … they’re really a resource that I think is important to the community, kind of that supportive safety net if you will in some ways for patients so they can get to the things that they need to get to and get the medicine they need.”

Those who wish to inquire about utilizing the fund should call the K21 Health Services Pavilion at 574-372-3500 and ask for the Help Center or may email Mayer at [email protected]. To donate to the fund, click here. 

Donations can also be made by mailing checks to the K21 Health Foundation, 1101 Park Ave., Winona Lake, IN 46590.