Thanks for All You Do!

Gregg Clark
Board Member
Golf Challenge and Golf-a-thon Co-chair

Dear Friends:
 
Everyone gets pulled into volunteering in different ways. I got involved with Cancer Services after watching several Golf Challenges held at Sandy Ridge Golf Course. I observed the many passionate volunteers with a desire to give back, which kick-started my journey to raise Golf Challenge pledges for Cancer Services.

The joy of giving is truly about helping others, which is what I like best about helping Cancer Services. Even after doing this for 10 years, I'm still motivated to support this awesome agency. Why? Because cancer strikes one out of two men and one out of three women, making this disease visible to everyone. Also, like you, I have personal stories about how cancer has hit family and friends, which only increases my passion for helping where I can.  
 
Cancer Services provides much-needed non-medical support to the local community, meeting many important needs – from rides to medical appointments to private counseling to getting fitted with a quality wig, or to just a compassionate shoulder to lean on.
 
Please join me at one or both of our golf events this summer to support our neighbors diagnosed with cancer. The Golf Challenge is a full field of professionals networking for good, and the Golf-a-thon is a handful of marathon men and women golfing 100 holes with the course closed to the public for our golfers to enjoy exclusively. Are you up for the challenge? 
 
With Cancer Services, no one must travel this journey alone.

William Yontz

Imagine this. Thirteen-year-old William Yontz runs away from home to find excitement and peace of mind. He travels around before discovering a career in the carnival. He spends 28 years in this career, working with various equipment, learning technical skills, and gaining educational skills like math.
 
Now fast forward to a man who is satisfied with his life, until he is diagnosed with lung cancer and pararectal cancer, which required surgery. He is alone in Midland with no family or friends. MidMichigan Health, however, recognizes his need and refers him to Cancer Services, where William says he found light and desperately needed support.

Below is a quote from a MidMichgian Health staff member.


William says that Cancer Services gave him strength by arranging transportation to treatment, until helping him secure a car of his own. Without stable housing, the agency staff worked to find him safe and clean housing at an affordable rate, giving William the independence that he needed.

William adds that his mental health improved radically thanks to private counseling sessions. William says he has much less anxiety and much more faith that he can recover. "I am incredibly grateful," he said. "It's been a rough road through all the appointments, surgeries, paperwork, and searching for a new place. I've finally done it, but could not have been able to without the help of Cancer Services. God Bless all of you."

The Cancer Services team knew what they were doing when they partnered Nicki Talbot and Mardie Pohanka together on a project a few years ago. The office was transitioning to a new location, which required many organizational and moving skills – strengths that Nicki and Mardie shared. They worked in perfect harmony then and haven't stopped since – becoming good friends in the process.

Nicki and Mardie volunteer most of their time in the Unique Boutique, managing wigs, prostheses, and client fittings, but also enjoy helping with various fundraisers or "anything that needs doing." Both encourage volunteering and say that any project is fun when you enjoy doing it, especially when you are able to witness the gratitude of the people you are helping firsthand.
 
"I got involved with Cancer Services around 2014 when my husband was in remission from leukemia," said Nicki. "Cancer Services lets me help people who are feeling at their lowest. When a client comes in, we laugh and cry together, but mostly laugh.
 
"One favorite memory is with a young woman who had a double mastectomy. She came to Cancer Services with a desire to feel and look like her 'old' self. I spent the afternoon with her, fitting her with the perfect prosthesis. After her fitting, she looked in the mirror and I could see the joy in her face as she stated she was so happy to 'have girls again!' That made my day. I love the people I've met through Cancer Services and love seeing clients leave with a new 'do' and smile on their face!"
 
Mardie feels the same way. "When I retired, I tried a few different things before coming to Cancer Services to volunteer. As soon as I walked in the door, I knew this was the place I wanted to be.
 
"I didn't plan to work with the wigs, but that's where they needed help when I arrived. I'm an organizer so I fell right into a rhythm, making sure everything had a place and looked good. One day, I just happened to be there when someone needed wig assistance, and it's become the best part of volunteering.
 
"One client who stands out was a mother of two who was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer. We spent a good hour just talking and crying together. We were both very excited that we had the perfect wig for her: the right color, length, and fit. Although her story is heartbreaking, I was able to help make her day a little brighter and it's something I won't forget."
 

"Ways to Wellness is grateful to be celebrating 10 years of wellness partnership with Cancer Services. Over the last decade, I have provided Reiki (an energy technique that promotes stress reduction and balance) to many individuals referred to me by Cancer Services. This simple energy practice is often used in major hospitals in conjunction with cancer treatments because of the benefits; reduced treatment side effects, fewer anxious feelings and an overall sense of peace and calm." - Jo, Ways to Wellness

Meet Eliana, our Office Manager

Hello! My name is Eliana Rosen, and I am the Officer Manager at Cancer Services. I am a California transplant, having traveled 2,500 miles to attend the University of Michigan to receive my bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Social Work. As to how a California native ended up in Midland, we can thank my in-laws (to be) for having introduced me to Julie Nunn after hearing about a job opening.

I joined the Cancer Services team in late June of 2018, taking on a few different roles before my current position. This allowed me to work closely with our clients, support groups, databases, grant writing, and more. 
 
Helping others is something I have always been and continue to be extremely passionate about. Previously, I worked as a research assistant at the University of Michigan supporting youth and families managing a specific and challenging medical condition. I’ve also previously worked within a residential program caring for youth who faced housing instability.
 
My favorite part of my job is personally bearing witness to the bigger impact that dedicated and caring people can make in their community. You can really have a lasting effect on people maneuvering through one of the most challenging periods of their lives. Knowing something as simple as a gas card, a package of adult briefs, or a listening ear can be the difference in someone finding the fight within is something that I find to be quite beautiful, humbling, and priceless.
 

Favorite quote: “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” - Margaret Mead

We are extremely excited to host our 20th Annual Golf Challenge on July 22 at Sandy Ridge! Sign up now to participate. 


Interested in our next event, Dinner on Main - Gather for Good? Tickets go on sale June 14 at Noon! 


See below for all our 2021 events

We’d like to give a shout-out to ALL our donors and volunteers for their dedication to Cancer Services, with special recognition to the following people for their recent efforts:

Dan Talbot and Connor Letzkus for loading and delivering a truckload of walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs from our office.

We'd like to thank the following Cancer Services 365 Sponsors!

 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for our #FeelGoodFriday message every Friday morning – a great way to start the day and end the week! All client services at Cancer Services are free of charge and full of compassion, thanks to the amazing support from donors, volunteers, and community partners. See how you can get involved as a donor or a volunteer via one of the links below.