(Sage Smiley / KSTK)
Residents of small Alaska communities should journey lots of or hundreds of miles for some varieties of medical care. One Wrangell basis goals to assist Southeast residents receiving most cancers remedy with a few of these journey prices – and so they’re holding a “Enjoyable and Frolic” golf rally this weekend (August 6) to earn cash for the trigger.
Many Southeast Alaska residents don’t have entry to most cancers remedy of their communities. For some sufferers, meaning touring to Sitka, Seattle, or additional down south. These prices add up. And that’s the place the WMC Basis is available in.
“The one factor that insurance coverage – in the event you’ve bought it – doesn’t cowl is getting there,” says Chris Ellis, a Wrangell resident and golfer who has been concerned with the WMC Basis’s fundraising for years. “Actually, no person will get remedy right here on the town. It simply isn’t a risk. It’s one of many issues we surrender once we select to stay right here. However [it’s a comfort] understanding that there’s assist, and also you’re not alone in having to get someplace, and understanding there’s a complete neighborhood behind you.”
The WMC Basis began in 2008, affiliated with the previous Wrangell Medical Middle. The medical heart has since been taken over by the Southeast Alaska Regional Well being Consortium (SEARHC) however the basis nonetheless exists individually. It modified its identify to “WMC,” to scale back confusion.
“What we do is we reimburse people who should journey out of city for most cancers care,” retired nurse and WMC Basis board member Janet Buness explains. “The reimbursement is $1,200 for a 12 months, and it covers transportation and your lodge. It may be a rental automobile, in order that it’s not simply jet fare or ferry journeys.”
Olinda White, the treasurer for the WMC Basis and former CFO of Wrangell’s hospital, says that the muse has reimbursed $132,000-worth of journey prices for greater than 150 most cancers sufferers in Wrangell, Petersburg and different small communities in southern Southeast.
“Some folks go on the ferry, so it’s, , a pair hundred {dollars},” White elaborates. “Some folks fly and should be gone for fairly some time, in order that they have a big amount of cash that isn’t reimbursed by insurance coverage and we [help] pay for the remaining.”
Through the years, the WMC Basis has fundraised in a wide range of methods – a e book sale, chocolate lovers’ pageant, and raffle. Final 12 months, the muse additionally acquired $10,000 from former Alaska First Girl Nancy Murkowski, via fundraising on the Waterfall Resort on Prince of Wales Island between Hydaburg and Craig.
These days, the principle means it earns cash is the Rally for Most cancers Care, a 9-hole “Enjoyable and Frolic” golf occasion held at Wrangell’s Muskeg Meadows Golf Course. This 12 months it’s scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 6.
Ann Kramer was the mammography and imaging supervisor at Wrangell’s hospital for greater than 25 years. She says the occasion is particularly for girls.
“‘Girls’s Enjoyable and Frolic,’” she says, “That doesn’t imply outdated girls. Carry younger girls, convey teenage ladies, and I’ve even taken my 11-year-old granddaughter. It’s a beautiful means to assist others and to share and construct constructive recollections.”
Kramer says that the occasion could be powerful for competent golfers. Along with the 9 holes – lots of that are performed with particular guidelines, like having a foot in a bucket, or hitting a wiffle ball as a substitute of a golf ball – there’s a placing contest and a silent public sale.
“There can be an skilled golfer, Jim Abbott, who can be there to offer you some recommendations on the right way to maintain in your membership and hit the ball, hopefully within the ahead path,” Kramer explains with fun.
SEARHC, Wrangell’s healthcare supplier, has additionally stepped on this 12 months to donate prizes, prize cash, and run some video games. Money prizes will run as much as $300, and raffle objects embody golf golf equipment, canvas garden chairs, an out of doors solo range, and extra. Artwork from native artists and “drinks brewed right here within the Wrangell space” are up for public sale in the course of the silent public sale.
Plus, the meals.
“My gosh the meals for days, you’ve simply by no means had such meals,” Kramer exclaims. “We’re going to have pulled pork and slaw so all you southern gals have your barbecue sandwiches together with your slaw on it. Pasta salads, potato salad – we have now so many fantastic donors to this, we have now some particular, particular cupcakes which are going to be coming, and flower preparations…”
For years, the occasion’s centerpiece dessert has been a “boob cake,” a cheeky nod to its roots in breast most cancers remedy fundraising. Last year, the featured candy was a really busty mermaid cake. WMC Basis President Patty Gilbert says the muse is switching it up this 12 months.
“No boob cake,” Gilbert laughs, “However booby cupcakes are going to be accessible together with booby prizes, so alert the women.”
She says the occasion will go on rain or shine. And he or she provides that first-time golfers will match proper in: “All you need to know is the right way to spell golf, and also you’ll be superb.”
WMC Basis members like Kramer say that even girls who don’t golf ought to come out and benefit from the garden video games and meals, and take part within the silent public sale.
“It’s so fantastic to have such enjoyable and to know you’re serving to someone,” Kramer says, “As a result of sometime you could be that someone.”
Outdoors of the occasion, treasurer White says the muse is all the time encouraging extra functions.
“Don’t say, ‘I don’t want it. So I’m not going to use,” White exhorts. “The funds are there for everybody. We want everybody to use that has to depart city for any kind of most cancers remedy. Each [dollar]is useful, and it must be used.”
The $1,200 annual reimbursements from the WMC Basis can be found to anybody being handled for most cancers in any southern Southeast neighborhood of fewer than 5,000 folks, says basis president Gilbert.
“We’re promoting on Prince of Wales Island, in Petersburg, and Wrangell, to attempt to get the phrase out,” Gilbert says.
Buness, the retired nurse, says the applying for reimbursement is extremely easy.
“It’s one web page, it’s actually, very easy to fill out,” she says. “It doesn’t ask you something about what your earnings is, or something like that. It does ask what kind of medical health insurance you might have, and desires to know the identify of your doctor.”
Gilbert says the muse goals to by no means have to show a most cancers affected person away.
“We’ve by no means denied an software,” she says. “We did promote in Juneau for a few years, and Juneau was actually on the spot by way of promoting this excellent profit, so we bought many requests from Juneau, and it was simply an excessive amount of for us to deal with with our fundraising occasions. [But] we need to proceed this program so long as attainable.”
Chris Ellis says it’s inspiring on the rally annually to see Wrangell and Petersburg girls come collectively to point out folks going via a tough time that they’re not alone.
“All people form of units apart their variations for a day and simply focuses on having enjoyable, and doing one thing good for someone else,” Ellis says.
On the rally, there’s a second of recognition for most cancers survivors.
“They may name for everybody who’s a most cancers survivor to face and so they’ll be given a pink carnation,” Kramer explains. “It’s simply actually humbling and really emotionally supportive all the best way round. We’re only one folks and we’re all on this collectively.”
There’s additionally a particular, sentimental tapestry that comes out every year for the Rally for Most cancers Care occasion.
“On it, we have now balloons,” Kramer says, “And you may write the identify of your beloved, someone who’s had most cancers – survived or handed. Yearly, we add to it, and it’s simply overwhelming to take a look at the balloons, take a look at the names and keep in mind all these fantastic folks. They’re not forgotten. And we’re working exhausting to lift cash to assist others to allow them to be success tales.”
Along with serving to most cancers sufferers with journey remedy prices, the muse additionally seeks to help a brand new technology of Alaska healthcare staff – it sponsors a yearly $1,000 scholarship for Wrangell Excessive Faculty college students going into healthcare-related fields, renewable for 4 years.
The WMC Basis Rally for Most cancers Care is scheduled to happen starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday August 6. Registration is $35. There can be a ship from Banana Level to Wrangell to convey Petersburg residents over for the rally. For extra particulars in regards to the occasion or the WMC Basis, go to the muse web site at wmccancercare.com.
Get in contact with KSTK at news@kstk.org or (907) 874-2345.
