A Message from Sherrie - 2024

Have you, or anyone you know or love, ever had cancer?  Chances are, almost everyone will answer yes to that question.  Over our lifetime, cancer touches us all, in one way or another.  It doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, old or young, tall or short, or blonde or brunette.  It reaches out and touches us all, no matter our circumstances.  Do you know who else doesn’t care if you’re rich, poor, old, young, tall, short, blonde or brunette?  Cancer Services of Grant County (CSGC).  If you need help with your cancer journey, we are here for you, regardless of your circumstances. 

For 65 years, CSGC has been opening its doors every day to help people facing cancer in our community.  We assist with prescriptions, transportation, education, navigation, equipment and supplies, wigs, and so much more.  Our team is dedicated and experienced in lessening the burdens caused by a cancer diagnosis. 

Before stepping into his leadership role in 2022, our Executive Director was our Director of Advocacy for nine years.  Our Breast Health Navigator has been with us for 12 years educating our community on breast health and the importance of early detection, facilitating free mammograms, and fitting women with post-mastectomy bras and prosthetics.  Our Administrative Assistants have a combined 10 years’ experience, and our bookkeeper has been with us since 2019.    I myself have been with CSGC for 12 years, and was a long-time supporter prior to my employment here.  And although our Director of Advocacy is just coming up on her one-year anniversary here, she originally came to us as an intern in 2018.  We have the dedication, the knowledge, the experience, and we have all been touched by cancer as well.  We don’t just talk the talk, we’ve all walked the walk.

I invite you today to assist us in our mission to increase survival rates and embrace families facing cancer in Grant County.  At CSGC there are never any fees for our services, so we are supported solely through donations, grants, memorials, and fundraising events.  Every donation, regardless of size, plays a crucial role in our ability to continue helping people facing cancer in our community. 

Thank you so much for your continued support of the important work we’re doing at Cancer Services of Grant County.  If you know someone fighting cancer, please send them our way.  We’d love to help!

With gratitude,

Sherrie Stahl Director of Operations

A Message from Rocky - 2023

If you have ever heard me talk about Cancer Services of Grant County (CSGC), then you have heard me say these three things: our programs evolve to meet the needs of the community, everything we do is 100% free, and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the support of our community. 2023 was a prime example of CSGC adapting to meet the needs of the community, while simultaneously dealing with a flood AND a truck driving through the reception area of our office.

It all started Christmas weekend of 2022 when a failed water line caused a flood in the office. Then in February, while we were still dealing with flood repairs, a gentleman drove his truck into our building causing significant damage. Our office was turned upside down and thrown into chaos. And on top of all of that, we had one of our busiest years ever here at CSGC!

In June of this year, Progressive Cancer Care (PCC) temporarily stopped treating patients for four months while updated radiation equipment was installed. This temporary closure meant all of their patients had to be sent to Muncie for radiation. We worked closely with the staff at PCC to ensure all of their patients were able to make it to their treatments. During this four-month period our gas assistance increased by 164% and the number of clients who needed help with rides increased by 291%. I am happy to say that we successfully assisted 100% of the people who came through our doors during this difficult period.

CSGC has been in Grant County since 1959 helping people in our community facing cancer. We help anyone who lives, works, or is treated in Grant County. We help with prescriptions, transportation, equipment, supplies, financial guidance, education, navigation, and more. And we provide all of these services 100% free of charge. We open our doors everyday to help those facing cancer. Our funding comes from fundraisers, grants, donations, memorials, and estates. And all of the money raised stays right here in Grant County to help local people with their cancer journey.

To say that it has been a difficult year would be a huge understatement; however, even in the face of all this adversity, we were still able to help so many people. You see, even though we were displaced for eight months and our lives were a little chaotic, we still had clients who needed us, and we showed up for them…every day. I am humbly and respectfully asking you to continue to rally around CSGC. Your tax-deductible donation helps us meet the ever-increasing needs of those facing cancer in Grant County.

Cancer Services Hosts Annual Walk of Hope

Chronicle Tribune Article - May 9, 2023

On Friday, May 5, Cancer Services of Grant County hosted its 24th annual Walk of Hope in downtown Marion.

Executive Director Rocky Whitehead said the event is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and he enjoys seeing the community at the event.

“It is one of the ways we raise funds to be able to do what we do and not charge a fee for our service,” Whitehead said. “Everything we do for clients that walk through our doors is 100 percent free.”

Whitehead said Cancer Services of Grant County has been in the area since 1959 and was created because Grant County has a high cancer rate.

“We were started by Grant County residents, and we’re here for Grant County residents,” he added. “A lot of people think we’re part of the American Cancer Society or Marion Health, but we’re not. We work closely with Marion Health, but we’re not part of it.”

Whitehead also said the organization provides services like transportation to appointments, prescriptions, and providing hospital supplies like beds, walkers or shower chairs. They also have wigs, hats or turbans for individuals who may have lost their hair during chemotherapy treatment.

Whitehead was pleased with the turnout of the community at the event this year, he said, but that’s the same way he feels every year.

“I’ve been here 10 years,” he said. “That is one of the best feelings, and it gives me goosebumps to see so many people come together for a cause like that and to show the folks who are facing cancer that they have a bigger support system than they thought.”

He also said he is proud of how willing the community is to come to an event like the Walk of Hope.

“This is a very giving community that we’re in,” he added. “Everyone is willing to step up and help.”

While the Walk of Hope is Cancer Services of Grant County’s largest fundraiser, the organization also has other events, like a golf scramble in August and a fun run in October.

For more information on Cancer Services of Grant County and its future events, visit the organization’s website.