CORTLAND, NY (CortacaToday) – A nonprofit group in Central New York is partnering with the Cortland Memorial Foundation to help local women.

A $10,000 donation on Monday establishes the “Hope for Heather” Ovarian and Other Gynecologic Cancers Program. It will promote education and awareness and provide financial assistance to women with cancer and their families.

The Hope for Heather organization was established in 2009 by Frieda and Gary Weeks of Liverpool, New York, in honor of their daughter Heather, who passed away from cancer at age 24.

“Hope for Heather is thrilled to begin this new chapter of gynecological cancer awareness and education to the Cortland area,” said President and Founder Frieda Weeks. “Our new partnership with Cortland Memorial Foundation will help to ensure that no woman is left behind.”

The program seeks to engage and inform women about the major symptoms of gynecologic cancers including ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, and fallopian tube cancer.

“Within the last year, I have taken care of many women newly diagnosed and affected by gynecologic cancers,” said Dr. Kristin Algoe, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guthrie Cortland OB-GYN. “With a diagnosis comes a time of great uncertainty and anxiety. Knowing there are programs like this put into place for community support allows me to alleviate some of these anxieties and help patients find their paths to recovery with assistance.”

 

Photo Caption (Left to right): Adrian Mulvihill, Medical Social Worker, Renzi Cancer Center, Guthrie Cortland Medical Center; Carey Wilk, Oncology Nurse Navigator, Renzi Cancer Center, Guthrie Cortland Medical Center; Sheila Ossit, Cortland Memorial Foundation Director; Jennifer Yartym,  President Guthrie Cortland Medical Center; Frieda Weeks, President & Founder, Hope for Heather; Gary Weeks, Founder, Hope for Heather; Colleen Cullen Richardson, Board Member, Hope for Heather; Dr. Rex David Gido, Cortland Memorial Foundation Board Member