Community once again supports local cancer patients during annual Day of Hope fundraiser
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Central Coast is once again rallying around local cancer patients during today's Day of Hope fundraiser.
Now in its 10th year, the popular event raises money to help support patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande.
From 7 a.m. to noon, dozens of volunteer teams were stationed at various street corners, intersections, parking lots, storefront entrances and other locations throughout in the Santa Maria Valley, as well as parts of Nipomo, Arroyo Grande and Guadalupe.
Wearing brightly colored vests, team members sold special edition $1 Santa Maria Times newspapers, with the proceeds all going to benefit patients at the cancer center.
"The greatest thing about Day of Hope is the community support," said Sue Anderson, Marian Regionall Medical Center President/CEO. "I drove all around the city this morning and almost on every corner there is a team, and just to see people give whatever they could to contribute as they're driving by, it's just really. It's an amazing community event."
About 60 teams are taking part in the event this year, which will surpass $2 million mark in total money raised since it was first held 10 years ago.
"It's incredible," said Anderson. "Think about it. One paper at a time. One dollar at a time. To raise that kind of money from our community, the support for our programs is just outstanding. I love this community."
Many of the volunteers selling papers were Mission Hope patients themselves, such as Gizelle Mendoza, who is a cancer survivor that is still undergoing continuous treatment at the center.
"It means so much," said Mendoza. "I got all my medical treatment at Mission Hope and I couldn't imagine being on this journey without Mission Hope behind me and supporting me, so today is about giving back. There's people getting diagnosed all the time and going through treatment, so to me, to give back to this place that was so supportive of me, it means a lot."
All of the money raised before, during and after today's Day of Hope will go to support Mission Hope Cancer Center patients, specifically many of the myriad of programs and services that are provided free of charge.
"Every dollar goes directly to Mission Hope," said Anderson. "That's what is so great about this fundraiser. We've done everything from transport vans to help transport patients, to equipment that's needed, to helping individuals as they're going through their cancer journey and need a little bit of help. All of that, this money goes towards."
More than 10,000 newspapers were sold during the event. Even though they cost only $1, many times donors gave in far greater monetary amounts.
"5's. 10's. 20's, 50's," said Crystal Lawrence, with Team Santa Maria Terrace, which was located on the busy corner of Broadway and Main Street "I had a lady drop off her wallet one time and say keep the change."
The fundraiser culminated with a car parade through the city. Starting at the Santa Maria Fairpark, about 100 cars drove north up Broadway, before turning east onto Main Street, while finishing at Mission Hope, where they were greeted by large number of enthusiastic supporters who lined both sides of East Church Street.
"I am really blown away at seeing the community really come together and do something for cancer patients and people who are fighting and people like me who have fought and battled and now we get to continue to support other cancer patients that are getting diagnosed," said cancer survivor Andrea Sauceda, who is serving as this year's Day of Hope Ambassador. "I'm just blown away by the people who care and supported this cause. The teams, the people driving by just giving totally whatever is in their wallet, just to support. It's been very beautiful to see."
After riding in the lead car during the parade, Sauceda said afterwards that she wanted to relay an important message to the public about their support of local cancer patients during this event.
"I just want to say thank you so much to every single person that has been a part of today, the Day of Hope," said Sauceda. "We are so grateful for your kindness and your generosity, and we are going to see lives being changed and people being taken care of who are being diagnosed. It's just feels my heart with so much joy. Thank you so much to the whole community and the whole Central Coast for really stepping up and being part of Day of Hope."
While the Day of Hope is now over, donations will still be accpeted through Sept. 16. The final monetary amount raised during this year's event will be revealed during a special ceremony that is scheduled for Sept. 20.
To donate to the 10th Annual Day of Hope, click here.
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