Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer donated a portion of the funds raised during last year's Believe Walk Funds to grant patients at LLU Cancer Center access to essential wellness services at no cost.
Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer presented a check for $150,000 to Loma Linda University Cancer Center on Tuesday, August 16. The funds were a portion of those raised at the 14th annual Believe Walk held in October 2021, and will assist patients at LLU Cancer Center with issues related to their cancer diagnosis.
“We are thrilled to receive these funds to help provide wellness services to cancer patients at no cost,” said Judy Chatigny, RN, MSN, assistant vice president of the Cancer Center.
For many patients in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, a cancer diagnosis can present serious economic challenge, Chatigny says. As a safety-net facility in the region, LLU Cancer Center aims to use the donation funds to enable all patients to have equal access to the Cancer Center’s support services.
Services include patient navigation services, valet parking, financial assistance programs, Stater Bros. grocery gift cards, transportation vouchers, wigs and beanies, skincare, support groups, as well as consultations with dietitians, social workers, a chaplain, pharmacists, or psychologists. Additionally, the Cancer Center also offers chair massages to patients in the infusion area to help with relaxation and to decrease pain.
The Believe Walk aims to increase awareness of cancer, support patients and caregivers, and survivors, expand treatment, and enhance wellness for those impacted by cancer. Last year’s walk took place virtually and united over 750 participants from near and far. This year’s walk will be returning to an in-person event for the first time since 2020.
The Believe Walk was created through the partnership of Inland Women Fighting Cancer founding members Cathy Stockton, Annie Sellas, and the late Nancy Varner, along with Stater Bros. Charities. Fifteen years ago, event co-founders and cancer survivors Stockton and Sellas saw the need for quality cancer care in the Inland Empire. They say they are privileged to be able to help people throughout the community facing all cancers thanks to their enduring partnerships with institutions like LLU Cancer Center.
“The Believe Walk is blessed to have the support of a caring community that makes it possible to maintain the level of care at LLU Cancer Center,” they say.
To date, the partnership between Stater Bros. Charities and Inland Women Fighting Cancer has donated over $6.6 million to support programs, services, and equipment to advance cancer care in the Inland Empire.
The 15th annual Believe Walk will take place on Sunday, October 2. You can support cancer patients and survivors by signing up to participate and donate to the cause.