Dugan Event Focuses on Cancer Care Center Support
Over the past 13 years, the Upper Valley Medical Center cancer program has received more than a half a million dollars in donations from fundraising events sponsored by the family of the late John J. Dugan in his honor.
This year’s event, held June 8 at the UVMC Cancer Care Center, pushed total contributions over the $575,000 level.
“The Dugan family’s support has really helped us tremendously,” said Jean Heath, director of the Cancer Center. “People in our community benefit directly from their tireless efforts in hosting this reception.”
The benefit event has helped fund projects designed to enhance cancer patient comfort and convenience in a healing environment, such as a medical massage therapy program and a healing garden outside the center, said Kathie Scarbrough, president and executive director of the UVMC Foundation.
This year’s proceeds will go toward continued support and expansion of evidence-based integrative /complementary medicine therapies and modalities available to patients as well as education and cancer screening programs for the community.
“Without the great support of this event’s attendees and donors, these enhancements would not be possible,” said Brian Dugan, John’s son.
“I know my husband would be absolutely flabbergasted this has gone on for so long and for what a wonderful institution this is,” Dugan’s wife, Jean Dugan, said in thanking supporters at the benefit reception.
“My husband was a great supporter of UVMC,” said Jean Dugan. “He died in 2003 from complications from esophageal cancer. Our family decided the best way to honor his memory was to support the UVMC Cancer Care Center.”
John J. Dugan had been a Miami County commissioner, local business man and long-time supporter of UVMC. The infusion center at the Cancer Care Center is named in his honor.
Local cancer survivor Gail Reardon brought the services offered at the center to life as the featured speaker at the reception. She told supporters in attendance that she and the community are “blessed” to have a place offering such comfort and professional care.
Reardon, a Piqua resident, shared the story of her cancer journey, which began just before Christmas and included surgery and subsequent treatment and infusions at the center.
“Everyone here is so unbelievably nice and accommodating. It is a scary thing to go through, and you just feel you are getting a little bit of extra care here,” Reardon said, thanking the Dugan family for their generosity.
“Our community is blessed to have such a beautiful center that offers comfort and professional care,” she said,
Brian Dugan thanked Reardon for sharing her story, and supporters for their commitment to the center.
“Your story is why we have this facility,” he told Reardon. “To have this event at this facility lets us know what it is all about, to have this kind of first-class facility in the county.” To learn more about the UVMC Cancer Care Center, call (937) 440-4820.
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