Cancer fighting focus of Mercy Christmas event
by December 3, 2011 3:44 pm 83 views
About 350 people attended Mercy of Fort Smith Auxiliary’s 44th Annual Holiday Dinner, Dance and Auction Friday night at Phoenix Expo Event Center.
The auxiliary has been serving Mercy of Fort Smith’s mission for 105 years. Each year they contribute more than 60,000 service hours to the hospital. Shirley Walters, president of the auxiliary, and Jill Barry, dinner dance chair, worked months to make the event a success.
“We hope to raise $55,000 this year,” Walters said. “The auxiliary impacts the hospital every day and we are grateful for the donations and support we get from the community.”
The proceeds from the event, “It’s Christmas,” will be used to support the radiation oncology department at the Hembree Cancer Center to purchase a new linear accelerator.
Mercy’s radiation oncology team provided treatment to 450 patients last year. Dr. Dominic Nguyen, radiation oncologist, said the goal of the center is to “provide more comprehensive cancer treatments right here at home.” He said the accelerator will be used to pinpoint small tumors sparing critical organs in a smaller amount of time.
“While the usual amount of time to receive radiation is every day for six to eight weeks (35-40 treatments), the new accelerator would cut the treatment time down to three to five treatments,” explained Dr. Nguyen while speaking to attendees.
Nguyen asked the audience to “help us build a world-class cancer center here in Fort Smith.”
Jack Dunn served as auctioneer, cajoling and pleasantly but consistently prodding higher bids from the auction participants.
Donna and Mike Stec won the bid to see the 2011 World Series Champions St. Louis Cardinals baseball game in 2012 at Busch Stadium for 20 guests.
Dr. Delilah Easom and Kim Cash bought the “Shop till you Drop” trip to Chicago staying at the Drake Hotel. Susan Fiori was sporting a Tag Heuer Formula 1 steel and ceramic diamond watch as she and her husband Sam were the high bidders. Linda and Buddy Spradlin were successful in winning the bid for a exotic animal hunt for two at Backbone Mountain Hunting Ranch in Cameron, Okla.
Daren Bobb and Ashley Beck, with KFSM 5 News, served as masters of ceremonies for the event. Full House from Springdale provided the dance music after the dinner and live auction.
