Non-profit cancer organization expands further into Central PA

Yahoo

03-03-2025

BEDFORD, Pa. (WTAJ) — A non-profit organization with roots in Central Pennsylvania expanded its service area to Bedford County on Monday.
The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund helps ease the financial burden of individuals and families who are battling cancer.
The assistance fund serves people in Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties. Bedford becomes the seventh county on their list.
'Many cancer patients have told us that our help has come to them at the worst time in their life, quite possibly. And it's basically been a lifeline for folks, who are oftentimes too sick when they're experiencing cancer treatments to work and to earn money and earn the living that they're used to living and earning,' Executive Director, Cindy Smith said.
Brown said the organization started in State College in 2006 after Bob Perks, a young State College native, lost his battle with cancer. Bob's wife and friends started the Bob Perks Fund in his honor.
Local oncologists alerted the organization that the need was growing. There were also an overwhelming amount of requests. The expansion into Bedford came soon after.
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Other non-profit organizations such as Cove Cause for Cancer, Girls Night Out Altoona and UPMC Altoona, have supported the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund to make the move.
'We have raised and given out nearly $3 million since 2006. But as recently as last year, we gave $367,000 to 464 cancer patients in the six counties that we were serving. And, of course, now we've added Bedford. So our numbers are definitely going to be higher in 2025 because, you know, we're adding the seventh county, but also because the need seems to be so great. In the past, we've served more than 5,500 cancer patients and their families,' Brown said.
All of the money that's distributed to cancer patients is fundraised. They've paid for the expenses of daily living, such as rent, utilities, auto expenses, and food.
'We're just very grateful to be able to be in, Bedford County as well as the other six counties that we've been serving. And certainly, we hope that we can meet the needs of the cancer communities in all of our counties,' Brown said happily.
Applying to the Bob Perks Fund is done through your oncology or treatment team. Local cancer communities, cancer service centers, and health care centers have the application. After a discussion with your oncology team, they will submit an application on your behalf.
If you have any questions, you can visit their website or email them at [e-mail] or [e-mail].
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