Ozarks Healthcare Nurse Raises Funds for Cancer Patient Fund with Heartwarming Initiative
Ozarks Healthcare is proud to share one nurse’s heartwarming initiative to support patients in their cancer treatment journey. Heather Day, registered nurse (RN) at Ozarks Healthcare’s Cancer Treatment Center, recently embarked on a unique fundraising endeavor by organizing a quilt raffle to raise funds for a patient care fund.
The Ozarks Healthcare Cancer Treatment Center Patient Fund is a vital resource that assists patients and their families by providing financial support for various needs during their cancer treatment. From transportation to food and lodging, the fund eases some of the worries associated with cancer treatment, allowing patients to focus on their health and recovery.
“The primary request for help is with the cost of transportation,” Day said. “Due to being in a rural area, sometimes the cost of gas getting to and from multiple treatments a week is hard for some of our patients to cover. This fund allows us to help with gas gift cards as well as other items to help alleviate some of the burdens on our patients.”
Day decided to raffle off a king-size quilt from her family through social media. Day’s family, friends, and her social media followers were involved in the whole process. Her aunt, Mary Smotherman, even quilted the back as her personal donation. Through ticket sales and donations, Day raised $1,000.
“My original goal was $500,” Day said. “When we surpassed that, I set a second goal for $1,000. I want to thank all who donated and shared about the raffle!”
Day presented the funds to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, which helps Ozarks Healthcare’s Cancer Treatment Center manage its patient fund.
“We are proud of Heather’s drive to support our patients in such a meaningful and creative way,” Karen Yarbrough, Ozarks Healthcare Foundation Manager, said. “Heather’s hard work embodies our organization’s spirit of care, compassion, and community.”
The Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, established in 1998 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) with a local board of directors, serves as a liaison between donors and Ozarks Healthcare to assist the hospital in providing excellent healthcare to the communities it serves. For more information or to make a gift to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, please call 417-853-5200 or visit https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/support-us/.
Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
Heather Day, registered nurse (RN) at Ozarks Healthcare’s Cancer Treatment Center, recently embarked on a unique fundraising endeavor by organizing a quilt raffle to raise funds for a patient care fund. Day is pictured (center) with Karen Yarbrough, Ozarks Healthcare Foundation Manager (left), and Staci Zellar, Ozarks Healthcare Foundation administrative assistant (right).
