Donors help Chesapeake Health combat cancer

Aug. 26, 2004 — As part of the Chesapeake Health Foundation's $2 million campaign to raise funds for Chesapeake General Hospital's cancer services expansion, the following donors have been most generous:

Harry Bramhall Gilbert Charitable Trust - $135,000
TowneBank Foundation - $50,000
Household - $50,000
Chesapeake General Employees - $39,318
Chesapeake General Medical Staff - $25,000
Mitsubishi Chemical America Inc. - $20,000
Chesapeake General Hospital Auxiliary - $18,460
W. Pete Burkhimer Jr. - $15,000
Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle P.C. - $10,000

The campaign, titled "Hope for Tomorrow" Caring for People with Cancer, is scheduled through August 2005. With the funds, the Sidney M. Oman Cancer Treatment Center will be renovated to include a patient resource center, space for a much-needed second linear accelerator for radiation therapy, and rooms for chemotherapy. Donated funds also will help bring an innovative method of cancer treatment to the hospital called "brachytherapy," a minimally invasive procedure where radioactive "seeds" are directly implanted into the cancer site. Other funds will go toward enhancing hospice care for terminal cancer patients. The campaign also will raise money to develop new services for women facing gynecological cancer and fund a patient care coordinator to serve as a liaison between cancer patients, their doctors and caregivers. To make a donation, call 757.312.6314.