Castaways Against Cancer Show Sylvester Patients How Much They Care
Volunteers from the fundraising organization deliver care packages to cancer patients and caregivers.
For 25 years, Castaways Against Cancer has been raising funds to support cancer research. The non-profit organization recently expanded its efforts to help cancer patients and nurses by delivering care packages to the Comprehensive Treatment Unit (CTU) at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of UHealth–University of Miami Health System.
Gifts for Cancer Patients
For patients receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy infusions, the hours spent in the CTU can be isolating, cold and stressful. Aiming to make undergoing treatment more tolerable, the Castaways gift patients with items carefully sourced to provide comfort and brighten their spirits. The patient care bags include soft beanie hats selected to warm and soothe bald heads, fuzzy grippy socks, moisturizing hand cream, lip balm, hard candy and little notebooks and pens to jot down thoughts or notes about their treatment.
Mercy Sellek spearheads the patient care bags program. She says it’s a unique way for members of the Castaways to make a much deeper impact beyond their fundraising.
“This program has become integral to our mission to honor those affected by cancer,” said Sellek, an attorney who has provided legal services for Castaways Against Cancer and whose husband, Omar, is one of the paddlers. “The direct exchange between the Castaways volunteers and the patients is just so meaningful because we’re seeing something tangible in action.”
Beyond distributing the care bags, the Castaways also take the time to visit with the patients and explain how and why they support research at Sylvester.
“It makes for a wonderful interaction,” said Sellek. “We can share our hope as an organization that the studies we’re helping fund, and that the patients may be participating in, will correlate into successful treatment options and outcomes for future patients.”
Positivity for Both Patients and Staff
Sylvester Cancer Support Services Coordinator Tangela Hillery echoes that sentiment, noting this exchange positively impacts all involved, both givers and receivers.
“Our patients are always so grateful for these care packages that help lift their spirits while going through treatment,” said Hillery. “They are often surprised that people from the community give out of the kindness of their hearts, simply because they want to bring joy to others.”
That joy also extends to the Sylvester staff. The Castaways also deliver tote bags with little treats to the CTU nurses and nursing assistants.
“I think the nurses might have been more excited than the patients. They were buzzing!” said Hillery. “As a team, they work so hard, day in and day out, to care for our patients. To be appreciated and recognized for their dedication and compassion makes them feel so special and proud about what they do.”
The Castaways Against Cancer are currently preparing for their annual fundraising event, which will take place in June. The Bigger Boat Tour copies the journey the four original “sea hippies” took back in 2000, kayaking from Miami to Key West to raise money and awareness about cancer.
The committed team of paddlers, runners, cyclists and hundreds of supportive landlubbers have become a formidable fundraising force, having raised more than $2.7 million for cancer research. The Castaways have made a five-year, $1.5 million pledge to support innovative research at Sylvester.
Tags: cancer, cancer care, Castaways Against Cancer, philanthropy, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center