Fund helps those fighting serious illnesses

The Cancer and Critical Care Fund organizes fun events, like the beach volleyball tournament during Pentwater Homecoming, to raise money for local people fighting cancer and other serious illnesses.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

Patrick Fuller and his daughter, Anna Fuller, are passionate about helping those in need. That is why Patrick recently established the Cancer and Critical Care Fund through the Community Foundation for Oceana County to financially assist Oceana and surrounding area residents with

Patrick Fuller, at left, and his daughter Anna, at right, during the Cancer and Critical Care Fund Beach Volleyball Tournament during Pentwater Homecoming.

expenses associated with cancer or a critical illness.

“We’re both from the area and it’s our way of giving back to the Oceana community,” said Patrick, who is founder and CEO of the organization.

The Cancer and Critical Care Fund provides grants to families in need of financial assistance. Patrick and Anna emphasize that funds are available and urge residents with medical expenses associated with cancer or critical illnesses to contact them. “We want to help people in the community, and we have the money to do it,” said Anna, who is the executive director of the fund.

The father-daughter duo has energetically organized community events to create more awareness about their newly-formed organization and to raise funds. During Pentwater’s Homecoming weekend in mid-August, they had a volleyball tournament at Charles Mears State Park that raised approximately $200. The event was free, but participants generously contributed donations. “We were extremely pleased with the turnout,” Anna said. They also organize a successful golf outing in June at the Colonial Golf Course in Hart. This summer was their second year for both fun events.

Patrick noted that men in the United States have slightly less than a 1-in-2 lifetime risk of developing cancer and women have slightly more than a 1-in-3 chance of developing cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. A person in the United States suffers a heart attack about every 34 seconds and a stroke about every 40 seconds, according to the American Heart Association. Cancer or a critical illness can happen to anyone and at any time, and the Cancer and Critical Care Fund’s goal is to help as many families as possible for many years to come with the medical expenses associated with such serious illnesses.

The qualifications for receiving grants are liberally-defined, so many individuals can benefit.

The fund plans to give five to eight grants per year. The granting processes can occur at any time that a need arises. After building a foundation for the fund’s endowment, the Cancer and Critical Care Fund conducted its first round of grant-giving last August. Three individuals from Oceana County and surrounding areas each received a $500 grant.

If you or someone you know could benefit from a Cancer and Critical Care Fund grant, email cccfund.oceana@gmail.com or call Patrick at 517-290-4892. More information can be found on the CCC web site, on facebook, or at  oceana foundation.