A group from the Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston real estate agency presented a $42,000 donation to UNC Lineberger to support its Comprehensive Cancer Support Program at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital. HPW raised the funds during its 2019 Pig Out For The Cure event in September.
Pig Out For The Cure is an annual barbecue fundraising event, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting UNC Lineberger.
The HPW offices in Chapel Hill, Durham Fuquay-Varina, North Raleigh and Raleigh sold barbecue plates during lunchtime, as well as raised money through sponsorships and online donations. The event has raised $125,000 overall during the past seven years.
The event was started by Chapel Hill HPW agent Julie Amos, who was also a UNC Lineberger volunteer. The HPW Foundation added UNC Lineberger’s Comprehensive Cancer Support Program as one of its charities in 2017.
Impact
The Comprehensive Cancer Support Program helps patients during cancer treatment, recovery, and survivorship. UNC Lineberger is the only public National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Carolina.
Donald Rosenstein, MD, director of the Comprehensive Cancer Support Program, met with the HPW group before the check presentation and gave a tour of the Patient and Family Resource Center.
The Patient Family Resource Center connects patients to support, education, and related resources. It also offers services such as financial aid referrals, a boutique for wigs and head coverings, and relaxation rooms.
Rosenstein also discussed his recent work on addressing the financial burden – or toxicity – of cancer care. Rosenstein is part of a team that received a $1.87 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study the impact of financial navigation services at five rural cancer centers in North Carolina.