Which Dollar is a Richmond-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing qualified cancer patients with financial assistance during their treatment and recovery.
Cancer treatment imposes a heavy economic burden on patients and their families. Patients undergoing treatment may be unable to work and many, even middle class, patients are uninsured or under insured. Which Dollar accepts applications for financial assistance from cancer patients and family members. Qualified applicants are provided with cash that can be used for bills and other expenses, such as child care and prescription costs.
Which Dollar was founded by the friends and family of Frank McDavid after he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005. Initially started as an American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" team, the group ultimately recognized the opportunity to serve patients in treatment helping them focus on recovery. Since its inception, Which Dollar has raised more than $48,000 and served nearly 100 patients.
For more information and to make a donation, please visit: www.whichdollar.org.
Profile #2 - Judy Wade, Purple Ladies Society
Wade is co-founder and a member of the Purple Ladies Society, chosen for her selfless work to deliver a message of support to patients struggling with cancer treatment. After losing her niece Coleen to breast cancer, Wade and her sister Barbara started the Purple Ladies Society and selected the Hawthorne Resource Cancer Center as their primary beneficiary.
The Purple Ladies gather once a month to make gift baskets that are delivered to Hawthorne and given to patients in need of an extra boost. They baskets are filled with goodies - from books and magazines to lotion and candy - and wrapped in signature purple paper (Coleen's favorite color).
Profile #3 - Martha Slay, FightSMA
Slay, founder and president of FightSMA, was selected for her efforts to raise funds to support research and treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The disease is one of the deadliest threats to infants, and Slay has helped generate more than $6.5 million to battle it.
Founded as a non-profit organization in 1991, FightSMA now has 19 local chapters in the U.S. and Canada and supports SMA research projects at more than 40 universities and institutions in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France and Italy. Slay also helped create the Fighter Mom program that helps mothers deal with a variety of childhood health disorders.
