Community Cancer Fund -- for Dyer County residents, by Dyer County residents

Community Cancer Fund Director Debra Roberson (left) stands with Mike Chilcutt (right) during the fund's Bar-B-Que for Cancer benefit last month. Chilcutt is one of the cancer patients the fund has assisted during their treatment of the disease. The Community Cancer Fund has donated over $31,000 to Dyer County cancer patients' needs over the last year and another $3,000 to St. Jude and Pilots for Patients. [Click to enlarge]

The Community Cancer Fund is the one local organization that has been assisting Dyer County cancer patients with vital resources so they will have one less thing to worry about during this arduous time.

Community Cancer Fund Director Debra Roberson said the 25-year-old organization is committed to helping Dyer County cancer patients and they only have to meet two requirements for them to receive help. The first, is a person must be actively undergoing treatment for cancer and the second, is they must simply live in Dyer County. A doctor must fax a statement to Roberson to verify the patient has cancer and that is all it takes.

Roberson said the fund has assisted people with everything from prosthetics to rent to medical bills.

"It's about reaching out," said Roberson.

One cancer patient the Community Cancer Fund is helping is Mike Chilcutt, 47, of Newbern. He is a father of two girls and has been married to his wife, Tammie, for 29 years. He was diagnosed in March of this year with adenocarcinoma, which was cancer in his salivary duct. He said he first noticed a small bump come up where he shaves and he watched it grow. He went to the doctor to see about it and he said only 1 in 100,000 patients get this type of cancer due to its location.

He had the cancer removed, but the surgeons intentionally left some of the cancer in because it was on a main nerve. Chilcutt said if it was all taken out it would mean permanent damage to his face.

On Sept. 1, he had a 12 1/2-hour surgery in which muscle, skin and nerves were taken from his shoulders and leg and placed in his face so it wouldn't cave in.

In October, Chilcutt began radiation and chemotherapy in Memphis. The treatment was for six weeks, five days a week.

He is a manger with Sonic Drive-in and has insurance, but he said there are a lot of expenses it doesn't cover. He turned to the Community Cancer Fund for help and was met with open arms.

"It's a blessing," said Chilcutt. "It takes a big burden off of you because you have a lot of other stuff going on."

Chilcutt, like other cancer patients, had not heard of the Community Cancer Fund until he needed it. This is a problem the fund is trying to overcome and are trying to get more people aware of their services.

"It excites me when we hear from people that are aware of what we have to provide," said Roberson. "One of our goals has been to increase the community's awareness of us."

Roberson also mentioned that other organizations are finding out about them and are asking them to help patients. One of those organizations is the American Cancer Society (ACS). Roberson said the Community Cancer Fund is on the ACS list of contacts to help cancer patients in Dyer County who are in need of services. She said the fund does not donate directly to the ACS, but they do not receive any assistance from them either.

She noted that the fund is also a United Way agency, but they haven't received any money from them in the last two years. People donating to United Way can ask their money go specifically to the Community Cancer Fund.

Apart from cancer patients contacting them, the fund also encourages people to recommend residents with cancer who may need assistance.

"This is what we need - a team," said Roberson. "The people of Dyer County to call us and tell us about a need."

Last year, the Community Cancer Fund donated a total of $31,785.81 to Dyer County cancer patients in need and another $3,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Pilots for Patients.

"Everybody's needs are different," said Roberson.

Community cancer Fund donations to patients from 2008-2009:

1.Medical bills - $6,059.07 (to 7 patients)

2.Medical equipment - $300 (to 1 patient)

3.Medical supplies - $204.12 (to 2 patients)

4.Nutritional supplement - $450 (to 6 patients)

5.General medical expense - $5,500 (to 11 patients)

6.Insurance payments - $891.18 (to 1 patient)

7.Medications - $4,151.30 (to 12 patients)

8.Personal items (wigs) - $197 (to 1 patient)

9.Phone bills - $720.03 (to 5 patients)

10.Rent - $1,174.47 (to 3 patients)

11.Transportation - $6,250 (to 16 patients)

12.Utilities - 3,838.64 (to 14 patients)

13.Burial expenses - $2,000 (for 4 patients)

14.St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - $1,000

15.Pilots for Patients - $2,000

Total donations - $34,785.81

The Community Cancer Fund had several fundraisers, donations and grants over the past year to help raise money for their expenses.

1.Bar-B-Que for Cancer benefit - $29,012.85

2.Mid South Riders - $10,374.37

3.Pre-sales/Lunches - $9,827

4.Lupo's celebrity waiter night - $3,813.43

5.First South bake sale - $1,100

6.Wal-Mart grant - $1,000

Total - $55,127.65

And Roberson said they still have money coming in.

"We're so appreciative of the people in Dyer County and them realizing the money does stay at home and it does really help Dyer County Cancer patients," said Roberson. "When it (cancer) hits home you feel the impact and you want to get on board and help."

Chilcutt said the fund is really what community is all about and described it as kind of like taking care of our own.

"Everything they raise, they keep local for our own people," said Chilcutt. "They can't take the cancer from you, but they can help you out."

If you are a Dyer County cancer patient or know of one in need, call the Community Cancer Fund at 288-8005.