JUNIATA COUNTY –- Eligible patients living in Mifflin and Juniata Counties undergoing cancer treatment are now eligible to receive financial assistance from the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. Since 2006, the Bob Perks Fund (BPF) has provided financial support to cancer patients living in Blair, Centre, Clearfield, and Huntingdon counties and is now able to add Mifflin and Juniata to its service area. BPF helps those who face serious financial problems because their battle with cancer has caused a decrease in their income or an increase their expenses. BPF assists cancer patients with current, nonmedical basic expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, gas and more. By providing this financial support, BPF aims to reduce cancer patients worries about unpaid bills and help them focus their energy on their health and recovery. Through a partnership with the Geisinger Foundation, the Bob Perks Fund will receive $50,000 through the next two years to ensure the smooth start-up of their expanded services to Mifflin and Juniata Counties. In addition, the BPF Board of Directors has committed available BPF resources to support the start-up of this programming. In recent months, BPF has worked with the leadership of Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, Geisinger Cancer Institute, Kish Bank, United Way of Mifflin-Juniata, and the Juniata River Valley Chamber, each of them affirming the needs of local cancer patients and offering their support. Since every dollar that pays a cancer patient expense is donated to the BPF, these leadership conversations have provided encouragement as the BPF moves ahead. To apply for BPF assistance, cancer patients currently undergoing treatment ask a member of their treatment team to make the referral to the BPF. This collaborative application process involves the cancer patient and case manager, nurse specialist or clinical supervisor. Cancer patients confirm that their need for assistance is directly related to their cancer diagnosis. The treatment team member confirms the cancer diagnosis and submits currently due bills up to $750 to the BPF. BPF was established in 2006 in memory of Bob Perks, a State College native, who died at age 42, after a long battle with melanoma. Bob was a founding member of Coaches vs Cancer of Penn State, and to fulfill his commitment to those battling cancer, Bob’s wife Doreen and family, friends, and colleagues established the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund. Since 2006, BPF has raised and distributed two million dollars to pay essential bills of cancer patients living in Blair, Centre, Clearfield, and Huntingdon counties and is pleased to add Mifflin and Juniata to its service area. For patients receiving this support, it offers a lifeline to cover many of their basic living expenses, often preventing eviction and utility shutoffs and helping them through some of their darkest hours. For more information about applying for assistance, email apply@bobperksfund. org or call (814) 231-2692. For general information about BPF, visit www.bobperksfund.org or contact Executive Director Norma Keller at nkeller@bobperks fund.org or 814-327-9247.
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