The PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation recently announced the creation of a $1 million endowed fund to assist economically vulnerable cancer patients. The fund will be named for Jaime Wyatt Miller, who died of breast cancer in 2018.
“Cancer care is expensive and it can be lengthy,” said Ron Prill, chair of the Foundation’s “Giving Strength” Cancer Campaign. “Some cancer patients need treatment for months or even years. That can create serious financial stress for them and their families in addition to the cost of the treatments themselves. The Jaime Wyatt Miller Cancer Compassion Fund will help low-income patients being treated at PeaceHealth Southwest with transportation to their appointments, clothing, food and other necessities until they have completed their treatments.”
A fundraising gala to support ‘Jaime’s Fund’ will be held Saturday, October 19, 2019, at the Vancouver Hilton. The first $250,000 in contributions made through the gala will be matched by Janis and Dan Wyatt, Jaime’s parents, and Andy Miller, her husband.
The Gala Committee is chaired by Terry Prill. Members of the gala planning committee are Linda Angelo, Barbara Boyer, Joan Cavanagh, Kathy Corwin, Jen Delich, Jo Marie Hansen, Jill Griffith, Andy Miller, Kiersten Palmersheim, Jessica Perdue, and Midge Ruiz.
“Everyone who knew Jaime Wyatt Miller is thrilled that this fund will be named in her memory. We’re so grateful to Janis, Dan, and Andy for their incredible generosity,” said Prill. “Jaime had an army of friends who will be actively involved in planning the gala and soliciting support for the fund. Jaime’s fund will provide help and comfort for many victims of cancer and their families who really need it. I think the Jaime Wyatt Miller Cancer Compassion Fund really gets to the heart of the idea we had in mind when we decided to name our entire cancer campaign ‘Giving Strength.'”
The Fund is one of three goals of the Foundation’s $10 million Giving Strength Cancer Campaign. The other two goals are a total renovation of the nursing unit that provides inpatient care to cancer patients, and the development of an enhanced comprehensive outpatient cancer center for patients to receive a variety of cancer treatments and consult with their oncology physician in one comfortable, modern setting.
“Nearly everyone knows someone who has suffered from cancer,” said Prill. “More and more of us are becoming cancer survivors ourselves, as cancer detection and treatment continue to become more effective. This campaign will enable significantly wider and better access to high-quality cancer care at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for all who need it in our community.”
For more information about the Gala or the Giving Strength Cancer Campaign, please contact the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation Office at (360) 514-3106 or visit www.peacehealth.org/givingstrength.
