Get ready to RUN!

Or walk, if that's your preference... we don't really mind. We just want you to JOIN US for the 7th Annual Heather Ridley-Fleeman Battle for Hope coming up May 7th! We'll be raising awareness of the need for early detection and regular screening for colorectal cancer, and raising funds for the patient services and community education programs of Hope Cancer Resources. Colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the U.S., and one of the most preventable - but unfortunately it is too often detected in later stages. Approximately 49,380 people will die from colorectal cancer this year. Help us get the word out! Read our previous post about the disease and share it with everyone you know!

We know there are a lot of races and walks and other outdoor events going on this time of year in Northwest Arkansas. We also know there are a lot of charities and non-profits that are asking you to join them to support their particular cause. But we hope you will give us one Saturday morning in May. Let us share a little story to demonstrate what happens to the money we raise...

Last year we received a call from a single mother of a 15 month old baby. The baby had been diagnosed with cancer and the mother had been taking her to Little Rock for treatments. The day that she called us she had been preparing to leave for an appointment when she discovered her car would not start. She quickly contacted a repair shop and was told that they could fix the problem, but the part would have to be ordered. Desperate to get her baby to her appointment, she called us. We helped the mother rent a car for the trip to Little Rock, and paid for fuel as well.

A few weeks later the mother called again to ask for assistance paying a utility bill. Because of the time she had taken off work to care for her daughter she had lost wages and was having trouble paying all of her bills that month. We helped her with the utility bill, and helped this mother get her child a little bit closer to recovery.

Sometimes the assistance required by a patient is complicated and time-consuming. Other times, it's as simple as handing them a card with our contact information on it. But no matter the level of assistance we are providing, we know that our patients are thankful that they found us. Odds are you have had some kind of experience with cancer. Either you've been a patient, or someone you care about has been. For those people, and even for those you don't know personally, we hope you'll join us to walk or run to help provide cancer assistance and education in our communities. Perhaps Mr. Smith said it best when he told our social worker "You guys have given me hope."

Help us give hope to cancer patients in Northwest Arkansas.