Wings of Hope Augmented Financial Assistance Program

The Cause

The Wings of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation ("Wings of Hope") would like to request $10,000 of funding for the expansion and re-ignition of our "Augmented Financial Assistance Program" or "AFAP". This would allow us to further aid low income breast cancer patients who have maxed out their support from other means available during an incredibly difficult journey with breast cancer. The costs of cancer are high, making the emotional and physical hardship of diagnosis, treatment and recovery even more difficult to deal with. Many breast cancer patients are unable to work during treatment due to side effects, including extreme fatigue. In addition, many medications and health supports required during treatment are not covered by health insurance.

In 1996 Wings of Hope made an endowment to the Alberta Cancer Foundation ("ACF"). The endowment generates investment income which is used by the ACF to provide financial support for low income breast cancer patients through its Patient Financial Assistance Program ("PFAP").

Wings of Hope assessed that the current PFAP funding provided by ACF was not meeting the significant financial needs of low income breast cancer patients. Wings of Hope found a need, greater than ever, for an Augmented Financial Assistance Program ("AFAP”) Under AFAP, we would provide additional funding for low income breast cancer patients that have "maxed out" their PFAP support. This funding would assist those patients in fulfilling their basic needs and supporting them through an incredibly difficult and tumultuous journey.

AFAP will continue so long as Wings of Hope can fund the program. In these uncertain times, donations to support our programs, including AFAP, have declined and we are looking for additional sources of funding to ensure the continuation of this very important program. Your generosity will make a significant difference to our AFAP program for 2018 and allow for its growth and expansion to meet the needs of low income breast cancer patients undergoing treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. All our funding to AFAP is provided through generous donors, both individuals and corporations that, like the Field Law Community Fund, wish to make a difference in their community.

Wings of Hope is a 100% volunteer run charitable, not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance to low-income breast cancer patients receiving or who have received treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre ("TBCC").

Who Will it Benefit?

The AFAP program will benefit low-income breast cancer patients receiving or who have received treatment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre ("TBCC") which services patients located in the Calgary and Southern Alberta region, for basic day-to-day living expenses, such as groceries, utilities, housing, transportation, medication and other basic living expenses. Many of these patients are unable to work during their treatment. Our funding programs allow patients to focus on recovery and alleviate the stress of providing for the basic necessities of life during these physically and emotionally difficult times.