McKesson Employees to Share “Words of Comfort” with Cancer Patients
Participants will create video messages for cancer patients in need, as part of Giving Comfort
LAS VEGAS, NV, May 13, 2014 /3BL Media/ – As part of a McKesson national sales meeting in Las Vegas this week, Giving Comfort – a program of the McKesson Foundation that provides care packages to low-income cancer patients – will record and collect inspirational videos from attendees to share with cancer patients and caregivers nationwide.
This effort is part of Giving Comfort’s “Words of Comfort” initiative, where people can digitally post motivational messages, videos and photos for cancer patients currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. To date, the program has received more than 2,300 submissions, with more being added every day.
“Through our work across the country, we’ve found that small comfort items and kind words of encouragement can make a huge difference in the lives of cancer patients undergoing treatment,” said Elizabeth Howland, managing director of Giving Comfort. “We’ve seen these positive impacts firsthand, and this week’s gathering is the perfect opportunity for McKesson employees to continue to spread words of comfort to the patients and families who need it most.”
During the two days of the meeting, Giving Comfort will have three video booths where participants can create a short video with a personal message for cancer patients that will be posted to the online “Words of Comfort” hub.
This initiative supplements Giving Comfort’s nationwide efforts to provide care packages for cancer patients of all ages to ease discomfort during painful and exhausting chemotherapy treatment. The packages, called “Comfort Kits,” are distributed through partners in 33 states including the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald Houses and Mayo Clinic, and are filled with essential comfort items including fuzzy socks, journals, tea and blankets, among others.
Nearly one quarter of people with cancer will exhaust all savings as a result of treatment costs, even with insurance, and 11% of cancer patients cannot afford food & basic necessities due to treatment costs. By purchasing a Comfort Kit for a friend or family member or donating a kit for a cancer patient in need, people can make an immediate impact in the life of a cancer patient.
For more information on Giving Comfort, visit: www.givingcomfort.org.
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About Giving Comfort
This year, more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer. Hundreds of thousands struggle to pay for basic needs, leaving them unable to afford the comfort items that make treatment more bearable. A nonprofit program of the McKesson Foundation, Giving Comfort fights cancer with comfort. It provides patients with Comfort Kits – cancer care packages filled with essential items that help ease the discomfort caused by treatment. Patients in need receive Comfort Kits free-of-charge through a network of Distribution Network Partners, which include hospitals, cancer treatment centers and hospitality houses. Through its e-store, Giving Comfort offers Comfort Kits for sale, with all proceeds going toward Kits for those in need. Founded in 2012, Giving Comfort reaches patients in 33 states through partners like the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald Houses and the Mayo Clinic. To learn more, visit at www.givingcomfort.org.
