Left to right: Kate Ford, club member and York Hospital Director of Volunteer & Student Experiences; Mary Ellen Valhos, Practice Manager, York Oncology Services; Dr. Patrick Taylor, York Hospital President & CEO; Susan Kelly-Westman, York Hospital Oncology Social Worker; and Jan Underhill, the club’s “Put Away Cancer” tournament co-chair.
York Hospital President & CEO Dr. Patrick A. Taylor and York Hospital Oncology caregivers recently accepted a check for $10,643 from the York Paddle Tennis and Pickleball Club (YPPC). For the third consecutive year, funds were raised through the club’s end-of-season “Put Away Cancer” tournament to help cancer patients through York Hospital’s Living Well With Cancer Fund. Jan Underhill leads fundraising activities for the YPPC and thanked club members and volunteers who contributed to the success of the annual fundraiser. “Club members and volunteers are so giving and generous and really want to help this community. I personally have two friends going through breast cancer treatment and unfortunately many of our members, if not all, also have a personal experience with cancer. Having the opportunity to help others and ease some of their treatment and recovery challenges is inspiring,” shared Underhill.
While accepting the donation, York Hospital President & CEO Dr. Patrick A. Taylor said the hospital was extremely grateful to the York Paddle & Pickleball Club for this donation to the Living Well with Cancer Fund. He added: “It is wonderful to know that club members are thinking of helping others as they gather in sport to compete with compassion. YPPC club members and volunteers have collaborated to raise close to $40,000 in just three years of tournament play. These incredible donations assist people who are being treated for cancer in a myriad of ways—from free exercise classes, support groups, acupuncture, yoga, art classes, and massage—as well as helping with expenses like wigs, prosthetics, rent, heat, groceries, and gas. All this community support really does help ease the emotional and financial burdens associated with each cancer journey, and we are deeply grateful for the club’s support.”
For details about York Hospital’s Cancer Care services, contact Susan Kelly-Westman, LMSW, at 207-351-3721, York Hospital Oncology & Infusion Care, 127 Long Sands Road, York, ME 03909. For more information on York Hospital’s other services or to donate to the York Hospital Living Well With Cancer Fund, visit yorkhospital.com or contact the Community Relations office at 207-351-2385 or [email protected]. If you are interested in discovering more about YPPC, visit yorkpaddletennisclub.org or contact them at [email protected].