Hall-Perrine Cancer Center receives grant award from Aiming For A Cure

Mercy's Hall-Perrine Cancer Center is honored to be the recipient of a grant award from the Aiming For A Cure Foundation – a local non-profit organization with the goal of improving the quality of cancer care and quality of life for children and families going through difficult times. The Foundation supports the funding of cancer research, non-insured expenses and patient care.

Aiming For A Cure presented the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center with a check for $170,000 today.

Mercy will use the grant award to develop a comprehensive resource center for individuals impacted by a cancer diagnosis, with the primary focus on patients' spouses, children, parents, friends, caregivers and support persons. The center will also serve the larger community as a hub for educational resources and support services.

“Through the findings of a community needs assessment, Mercy recognizes that resources for family members and support persons within the community are limited,” says Sandra Ahrendsen, program coordinator. “Seeing that need, we have chosen to designate this grant gift toward developing additional resources for those who support and care for cancer patients. Our goal is to connect those individuals with services within the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center as well as other services offered throughout the community.”

The grant award is envisioned to provide support in the following areas:

o Education and support provided in the schools and area businesses

o Awareness and referral to community support groups

o A physical space for children as their parents are receiving cancer treatment

o Access or referral to home services such as cleaning & lawn care

The new Family Cancer Resource Center is currently in the planning stages as the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center seeks the input of family advisory councils on how to best meet the needs of cancer patients and their support persons. Implementation of the program is expected this fall.

About Aiming For A Cure

The Aiming ForA Cure Foundation, based in Iowa City, IA, is built upon a foundation of committed people with a great passion to help children and their families that suffer from various forms of cancer. The foundation was started in 2004 with an idea formed by Steve & Jodie Ries Family and their son Ben Ries.

About Hall-Perrine Cancer Center

The Hall-Perrine Cancer Center marks the beginning of a new chapter in Mercy Medical Center's legacy of providing high quality cancer care for the community. The Center provides fully integrated cancer services under one roof, giving patients access to leading-edge technologies; integrated services to care for body, mind and spirit; and specialized treatment and research for the best outcomes. The Center houses the only radiation center in Cedar Rapids, Hall Radiation Center, as well as a lab and pharmacy – in one location. Conveniently connected to Mercy Medical Center, other elements required for quality cancer care, including private inpatient suites and imaging services, are just steps away.