NASHVILLE, Tenn., (May 31, 2007) – The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation has recently been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The funds are being used to provide financial assistance to breast cancer patients whose travel from rural areas to Metropolitan Nashville area hospitals for treatment poses financial hardship. Area treatment facilities will identify and refer qualifying patients to The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation.
“The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation is so grateful to partner with the Komen Greater Nashville Affiliate in this worthy endeavor,” said Susan Gregory, an oncology social worker at The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation. “This grant will permit us to assist approximately 165 breast cancer patients who have financial need and are traveling from rural areas to Nashville for treatment in the coming year.”
While in Nashville, patients and families are able to make use of The Foundation’s Patient Resource Center, which provides support regardless of a patient’s treating oncologist or facility and offers services free of charge. Its library houses an updated selection of educational and inspirational books, magazines, pamphlets, and audiovisual materials as well as computers to access bookmarked Internet cancer sites for research on up-to-date cancer information. On-site oncology social workers assist patients daily with emotional and practical issues such as finances, lodging, and transportation, and an in-house registered dietitian is available to consult with patients at any stage of cancer survivorship to develop personalized nutrition plans.
For more information, please contact The Foundation at (615) 467-1936 or Barbara Coleman, MSW, at Barbara@minniepearl.org or Susan Gregory, MSW, at Susan@minniepearl.org.
The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to funding programs that provide the greatest benefit to cancer patients and their families. By supporting new programs in cancer research, education, and patient and family services, we honor the memory of Sarah Cannon, a cancer patient herself, who created the beloved character “Minnie Pearl.”
About the Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure—along with those who generously support us with their talent, time and resources—is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in our community. We join more than 100,000 breast cancer survivors and activists around the globe as part of the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events like the Komen Greater Nashville Affiliate Race for the Cure, we have invested over $1.2 million dollars in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in Middle Tennessee. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Komen Greater Nashville Affiliate stay in Middle Tennessee while the remaining income goes to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Programs supporting research, awards and educational and scientific programs around the world. Join us by calling (615) 383-0017 or visiting us online at www.komennashville.org.