The Laurendeau Foundation for Cancer Care intends to further its work by transitioning from a separate foundation to establishing the Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund at the St. Luke’s Foundation effective August 1, 2011.

Founded in 1980 the Laurendeau Foundation is named after Dr. Theresa Laurendeau, a retired Bellingham Pathologist. After many years of serving at what was then St. Luke’s Hospital, she was exposed to the mental and financial burdens faced by cancer patients and their families. She provided the foundation’s initial funding which has assisted over 500 Whatcom County cancer patients in paying for medical expenses that aren’t eligible for public assistance or have limited resources.

Over the last few years the Laurendeau Foundation board has been challenged to secure enough resources to insure that the mission Dr. Laurendeau envisioned is sustained in the future. Rather than close the foundation the Laurendeau board approached the St. Luke’s Foundation to discuss opportunities for continuing the mission using a different approach. “We have a shared history and mission to improve healthcare in Whatcom County. It was a natural fit,” said Ron Snyder, Laurendeau Foundation Board President.

This transition will maintain support and guidance provided by the Laurendeau Foundation to the unique needs of cancer patients in the area. One such patient is a woman from Whatcom County with ovarian and breast cancer. She continues to work every day of her treatment to provide for herself as well as her husband who is a quadriplegic as a result of multiple sclerosis. In addition to the patients there are many in the community such as longtime Laurendeau Manager Kay Faulkner who are “happy that the patients will continue to be served.”

As part of this transition St. Luke's will be partnering with the Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access (WAHA) to continue and expand the screening of potential applications to pursue all resources before requesting support from the Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund. WAHA has helped existing Laurendeau clients find additional resources and has also identified services for their spouses and children that don't fall within the Laurendeau Mission. 

To support this new relationship, St. Luke’s Foundation with the help of a generous local donor will be launching a matching gift campaign in September with the goal of building the Laurendeau Cancer Care Fund to meet the growing needs of local cancer patients. This campaign will provide donors with a 2:1 match so that every $100 donated becomes $150.

Anyone interested in applying for Laurendeau Cancer Care support or making a donation should contact the St. Luke’s Foundation at (360) 671-1134 or click on the make a donation tab above.