Community Foundation hosts Cancer Alliance talk
PICTURED HERE (left to right): Patricia Sullivan (Program Manager S.C. Cancer Alliance), Pastor Christopher Morgan (Christ Cathedral Ministries and Greater Hartsville Ministerial Alliance), Michael B. Northcutt (Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center Community Wellness Coordinator), Thomas “T.C.” Sawyer Jr. (Genesis Health Care Board member and Volunteer Gifts and Development Director for the Darlington Community Foundation), Howard J. Nettles (Director of Community Outreach for Genesis Healthcare), Timothy Dargan (Lamar Town Administrator), Derrick Dease (Executive Director of Man2Man Father Initiative) and Henry Well (Executive Director S.C. Cancer Alliance). PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
By Stephan Drew, Editor
On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, a group of healthcare professionals, local pastors, business owners and civic leaders met at the Darlington Community Foundation, located at 115B Exchange St, Darlington. They gathered to discuss increasing cancer rates among all demographics, especially African-American males, and to plan, as a community, what steps, can be taken to inform, educate and help to treat those who are diagnosed with the condition. Genesis Healthcare Foundation sponsored the event.
The Darlington Community Foundation was organized in October of 2020 by Genesis Healthcare FQHC Inc., as an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation which serves Darlington County and the Olanta area (lower Florence County).
On hand for the discussion were Howard Nettles (Director of Community Outreach for Genesis Healthcare), Thomas “T.C.” Sawyer Jr. (Genesis Health Care Board member and Volunteer Gifts and Development Director for the Darlington Community Foundation), Patricia Sullivan (Program Manager for S.C. Cancer Alliance), Henry Well (Executive Director of the S.C. Cancer Alliance), Michael B. Northcutt (Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center Community Wellness Coordinator), Pastor Christopher Morgan (Christ Cathedral Ministries and Greater Hartsville Ministerial Alliance), Timothy Dargan (Lamar Town Administrator), and Derrick Dease (Executive Director of Man2Man Father Initiative).
Mr. Sawyer told of his personal struggle with and survival of Stage III Colon Cancer. He has over 41 churches listed in his database and his methods for contacting and educating those in the community. He explained that he is involved in getting information out to the public, especially at churches, barber shops and other locations where members of the community gather outside of a medical setting. Many options were discussed, including more classes and workshops, screening efforts, the possibility of setting up temporary clinics in minority neighborhoods and different ways to achieve greater participation in areas of the county which are suffering most. All in attendance agreed that getting the information out to the community and informing them of healthcare availability are paramount in diagnosing and combatting cancer early.
The S.C. Cancer Alliance relies on their active membership base to develop the S.C. Cancer Plan and implement it through grassroots efforts and grant-making opportunities. Their mission is to reduce the impact of cancer on all South Carolinians. Genesis Healthcare and the Darlington County Community Foundation play a vital role in those grassroots efforts in this area.