Drink for the Pink Raises $25,000 for Cancer Patient Assistance Fund
Never underestimate what a group of dedicated women can do when they combine creativity with hospitality and a heartfelt fundraising cause.
Nine lifelong friends launched Drink for the Pink when one woman in their close-knit group was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she is a survivor and a PINK celebrity for the annual event.
In its fifth year, the Drink for the Pink 2024 event raised $25,000 for the Cancer Patient Assistance Fund at the Springfield Memorial Foundation, which helps cancer patients and their families focus on getting better instead of worrying about upcoming bills.
The fun-filled night featured food, themed cocktails, entertainment, PINK celebrities and more. The fundraising included sponsorships, registration and activities on the night of the event. Pink tokens can be purchased for wood-fired pizzas, cupcakes, a mystery wine grab and raffle basket entries. Behind all the fun is a serious focus on helping others.
“Kelli Fisher, Carmen Kramer and Tia Rapps from Memorial work directly with these patients and have shared with us how important this fund is to help patients with gap expenses, while they wait for additional support to kick in,” said Nancy Washko, one of the Drink for the Pink organizers. “Our committee is hoping to relieve some of the worry and allow the patient to focus on their healing process.”
Naomi Wands, nurse manager for the Regional Cancer Center, said “Cancer is an unwelcome guest that brings with it a lot of extra baggage. It affects every aspect of a patient’s life. Too often, there are barriers for patients to get the treatment they need. Things we take for granted – like having money for gas or reliable transportation to travel to and from their appointments.”
That’s where the Cancer Patient Assistance Fund comes in. Patient navigators help identify needs and connect with the foundation to help meet those needs using targeted funding.
“Memorial Health serves a large demographic area, and many individuals are driving long distances for access to care,” Carmen Kramer, RN, said. “Gas cards can relieve some of that financial stress so that patients can spend their emotional energy on their treatments and not worrying about logistics.”
Mark Stephens is one of those cancer patients. He started the first of 30 treatments in November of 2024. His treatment schedule made it difficult to work, and his doctor recommended Mark and his girlfriend Rena Lacy meet with patient navigator Katie deMarco, RN. After discussing their needs, deMarco utilized the Cancer Patient Assistance Fund to pay two separate electric bills and provide a gas card for the Loami couple.
“My hours had been cut because I was taking Mark to and from his appointments,” Rena said. “Having help with those bills gave him relief from worrying how I was going to be able to keep up with everything. He was able to focus on getting better.”
That’s the driving force behind the Cancer Patient Assistance Fund – helping patients focus on their treatment and recovery. That’s where Drink for the Pink comes in – to help raise awareness and funding for the fund. The organizers are already planning the 2025 Drink for the Pink event, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Want to help? Visit memorial.health and learn more about different giving opportunities.
