Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon County Cancer Association is nearing the end of its fiscal year and reminds cancer patients to get their cancer bills into the association by Aug. 31.
The association pays up to $800 for unpaid cancer bills a year and after Aug. 31, a new round of payment begins.
Sandy Morin, OCCA treasurer, said if there are funds from the 2015 door-to-door canvas remaining, patients who received $800 this year for bills can have their remaining unpaid bills pro-rated for extra funds. After Aug. 29, the patient is eligible to submit bills for next year.
The cancer association will assist with cancer patient bills not covered by insurance.
Bills should be sent to the Ontonagon County Cancer Association, Box 282, Ontonagon, MI, 49953.
The OCCA board of directors Tuesday received a thank you from the Marshfield Clinic. Five percent of the funds raised in the annual door-to-door drive are sent for a research project which affects Ontonagon County patients.
The $2,712 from 5 percent of the 2015 canvas was given to a breast cancer research project at Marshfield.
The board received a report of the 2016 door-to-door canvas in May. Morin said the fund drive collected $33,484, the largest amount since the association went private in the 1980s.
Except for the 5 percent to research, the remainder is dedicated for cancer bills for patients.
“Each year the entire fund drive funds help patients with bills,” Morin emphasized. She said nearly 50 patients have been assisted financially this year and she expects more bills to come in before Aug. 31.
The treasurer said each year when the door-to-door collection is tallied, she is “amazed” at the continued generosity of the public.
That generosity again this year extends to the special events that groups or individuals sponsor. This past year, the Bowling for the Cure raised $4,802, Annual Barbecue for Life $8,788, Lake Trout Fishing Contest $4,000 and Settlers Federal Unions Co-op $4,082. Many of the funds, unless otherwise designated, are used to pay for the free mammograms for women and PSA tests for men.
One young girl, Sara, the granddaughter of Peggy Norris, of Ontonagon, comes to visit each year and sells lemonade for the cancer association. She donated the $50 she earned to the association. “This is an example of the kind of support we receive,” Morin said.
Bev Meagher, president of the cancer association, said the group will again sponsor free mammograms for women 40 and older. Details will be announced at the September meeting.