Cancer

Bringing Hope Closer to Home

The Campaign for the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center

 

Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital is engaged in the largest and most important capital campaign in the hospital’s 127-year history – a $2.4 million fundraising effort that will expand their facilities to meet the community’s cancer care needs well into the future.

Chaired by Karl Linebaugh and Sheri Thompson, the Bringing Hope Closer to Home Campaign challenges the community to provide philanthropic support at a level unprecedented in this region.  To reach the $2.4 million goal, they must rely on generous support from the communities within the 11 county region where Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital provides cancer treatment.

The cornerstone of the Bringing Hope to Home Capital Campaign is a lead gift from the Wheatlake family:  Frank, Susan, Drew and Bret.  Frank and Susan P. Wheatlake are the founders of the Wheatlake Cancer and Wellness Center at Mecosta County Medical Center in Big Rapids.  Through her own personal journey with cancer, Susan realized a need for educational resources for patients and family members.  With the help of the MCMC Foundation, the Susan P. Wheatlake Women’s Cancer and Wellness Endowment Fund established the Cancer and Wellness Center located in Big Rapids.  This service continues to provide assistance for cancer patients and families seeking educational resources and encouragement.

A full scope of preventative efforts and education, diagnosis and treatment all under one roof has always been the Wheatlake’s vision.  This dream came into focus when Susan became involved in the cancer center plans through her role as a volunteer with the Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital Oncology Patient and Family Advisory Council.  From strategy development to analyzing architectural renderings, her personal experience with cancer and passion for helping others compelled the family to lead the Bringing Hope Closer to Home Capital Campaign.

“We are blessed to have outstanding hospitals in our area”, said Karl Linebaugh, one of the chairpersons of the capital campaign.  “Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital and Mecosta County Medical Center provide award-winning services to our communities.  In addition, we have infusion therapy services and the Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center located at the intersection of US131 and US10.  An average of 50 patients a day access these services as demand for cancer care continues to grow.”

There are many opportunities for donating to the new cancer center and additional facility naming opportunities as well.  For more information on how to donate to the new center, contact the Spectrum Health Foundation at 231.832.7184 or visit the website at www.spectrumhealthfoundation.org and click on the Bringing Hope Closer to Home link.

Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital is a 25-bed acute care hospital located in Reed City, Michigan that has adopted the Planetree approach to care giving. A model of patient-centered care in a healing environment, staff is committed to improving medical care from the patient’s perspective, empowering patients and families through education, information and encouraging healing partnerships with caregivers.

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Photo and caption:
Linebaugh Family Gift – A Big Rapids couple have made a generous gift to Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital’s “Bringing Hope Closer to Home” Capital Campaign. Karl and Cindy Linebaugh contributed to the $2.4 million capital campaign project to build the Susan P. Wheatlake Regional Cancer Center at Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital.  The 9,000 square foot addition to the Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center located in Reed City will transform the capability and delivery of cancer services for the region. (pictured left to right, Karl and Cindy Linebaugh, and capital campaign cabinet members Dee Van Horn and Carolyn Curtin).