Hope Close to Home is Becoming a Reality!
I have had the pleasure of serving on the Central Montana Medical Center Cancer Center Committee since its inception in 2022, with the goal to build a cancer center treatment in Lewistown. What this means is, Central Montana patients who are battling cancer would now have the opportunity to receive diagnosis and treatment in Lewistown rather than have to travel to Billings, Great Falls or even further for comprehensive cancer care. Annually, patients and families in our area travel 165,000 miles for cancer care. Given our ever-changing weather conditions that we experience as Montanans, the completion of this project will help eliminate the stress of daily long-distance travel for appointments and treatment.
Bids for the project were opened in May, and estimated cost to complete the center is $15 million. The two-story 17,830 square foot newly constructed and remodeled space will feature radiation oncology treatment facilities and an oncology clinic on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor will provide infusion services. The project also includes a central registration area for all CMMC patients who do not need Emergency Room care.
To date, the campaign has raised $9 million from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, $2 million from businesses and individual donations, the CMMC Hospital Board has pledged another $2 million in debt financing, and committee members continue to pursue grant funding and other contacts. In addition, a local couple has generously pledged $1 million. This is a matching gift whereby any monies raised between now and August 15th will be matched up to $1 million.
We are looking forward to finalizing bids and details by mid August, and breaking ground by September. Please consider a monetary gift for this much needed project so that we can meet the $1 million match by August 15th. In doing so, you will help ensure the completion of a state of the art cancer treatment facility and services that will benefit Central Montana for decades to come. This has been a phenomenal team effort by a group of amazing individuals from all over Central Montana and we couldn't be more thrilled that Hope Close to Home is becoming a reality!
For more information and to donate log onto: http://www.cmmc.health/foundation/cancer-center/ or call 406-535-6309.
Janine Merrill
Stanford
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