Generous Donations Provide Treatment and Resources

Patients receiving treatment at Loma Linda University Cancer Center (LLUCC) will receive enhanced support services, thanks to a gift of $150,000 from Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer (IWFC). The donation will support services LLUCC offers including social work and support groups. “These items are not covered by insurance so it is incredibly powerful to receive a donation like this,” said Judy Chatigny, executive director for the Cancer Center. “Donations of this caliber allow us to focus more on our patients’ treatment.” Representatives from Stater Bros. Charities and IWFC presented a check to LLUCC officials on Thursday, Aug. 7. Funds were raised at the 6th annual Believe Walk, which took place on Oct. 6, 2013. “Stater Bros. Charities knows how important the Cancer Center is to the community and its patients,” said Susan Atkinson, president and CEO of Stater Bros. Charities. “It’s very important to us that it continues to have the resources it needs to be a critical and meaningful role in the lives of its patients. “We are extremely pleased to present this gift because it will help enhance services that may not be normally covered by medical insurance—services that are much needed by the patients,” Atkinson continued. One LLUCC patient, Jeanne Malcuit, a breast cancer survivor, said at the check presentation that she took advantage of the many support services offered. “The Cancer Center provided me with a social worker whose dedication to may case allowed me to focus on getting well,” she said. Malcuit had a $15,000 bill that her insurance refused to pay because they believed it was experimental. Her social worker contacted the necessary doctors and the insurance company to explain that the treatment was not experimental, but necessary, and he was able to get the issue resolved. She also used the support group services at the Patient Resource Center within LLUCC. Dr. Mark Reeves, director of Loma Linda University Cancer Center said the ongoing support from Stater Bros. Charities and IWFC continues to greatly enhance the treatment patients receive at the center. “It has been a blessing to be partners with Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer because they have been tireless advocates for cancer patients in the Inland Empire,” he said. The Believe Walk is a community based, volunteer driven, grassroots event in Redlands, California that engages over 10,000 participants, donors and sponsors who have invested over $2 million in the fight against cancer since 2008. The funds raised through the Believe Walk are donated to support local cancer centers and cancer fighting organization's initiatives. The 7th annual Believe Walk will take place on Oct. 5.