UMC Health System celebrates success of Passion Campaign
UMC Health System this week announced the successful conclusion of its monumental Passion Campaign, marking a significant milestone in the institution's history.
The Passion Campaign raised $25 million, reaching its goal to support the construction of the state-of-the-art UMC TLC2 Foundation Cancer Center in just under two years, according to a news release from UMC.
The Passion Campaign was launched in late 2021 under the leadership of Dave Marcinkowski and Marc McDougal. The contributions to this campaign will enable UMC Health System to advance cutting-edge treatments, patient support services, research, training, education, and Integrative Medicine services within the new cancer center.
“We don’t have to look far to find someone, perhaps a loved one, diagnosed with cancer. Whether in Lubbock, West Texas or Eastern New Mexico, cancer impacts our lives," said UMC President and CEO Mark Funderburk. “As patient volumes grow significantly, the UMC Cancer Center has woefully outgrown its current capacity.”
The new UMC TLC2 Foundation Cancer Center is set to provide crucial cancer care services to the rapidly growing West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region. UMC, in partnership with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), is committed to establishing a comprehensive academic cancer center. This center will serve as a destination for cancer care, offering a wide range of treatments, integrative medicine (wellness programs), patient and family support, and expanded research and clinical trials, all close to home. UMC and TTUHSC faculty specialists will work together across patient-centered treatment, research, and wellness options.
"The UMC Health System expresses its deep gratitude to the TLC2 Foundation for their visionary commitment, dedicating the new building to the legacy of Terry Lee Chandler," reads the news release. "UMC Health System extends its heartfelt appreciation to the UMC Health System Board of Managers and Leadership, UMC Foundation Board, Passion Campaign Cabinet, UMC Foundation Staff, and the compassionate and generous community. Together, this collaborative effort will change the future of cancer care and the lives of families within the West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region for generations to come."
About TLC2 Foundation
In 2014, Terry and Doug Chandler created The TLC2 Foundation from the Heart, a foundation dedicated to fighting cancer and supporting rural communities with minimal access to cancer treatments.
The cancer battle that many families face is not new to the Chandler family. Terry Chandler was diagnosed with the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma in April 2017. She passed away on July 4, 2017. Terry and Doug Chandler were married 49 years when she passed. Doug Chandler was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005 and was successfully treated. A couple of years after Terry's death, Doug was diagnosed with and successfully fought prostate cancer. Doug, with Terry’s enduring spirit, solidified the foundation’s relentless message: “Cancer, We are coming for you.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: UMC Health System celebrates success of Passion Campaign raising $25M
