Dempsey Center Receives Grant from Linda Tallen and David Paul Kane Cancer Educational and Research Foundation In December, 2008, the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing was awarded a grant in the amount of $25,000 from the Linda Tallen and David Paul Kane Cancer Educational and Research Foundation, for purposes of establishing the Cancer Outreach Education Fund at the new Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing.  This fund is used to bring cancer prevention education to medically underserved populations in and around rural Androscoggin, Oxford and upper Cumberland Counties in western Maine. Our new Cancer Health Outreach Educator (CHOE) has contacted a number of community agencies that serve at-risk and underserved populations in our community to discuss potential opportunities for collaboration.  The agencies include Seniors Plus (Area Agency on Aging, serving senior citizens); the Trinity Jubilee Center (serving the local refugee, poor, and homeless populations); the local public housing authorities; and others.  She has also connected with public health and cancer-related organizations, including Healthy Androscoggin; the American Cancer Society; and the Maine Cancer Consortium, to learn about other cancer prevention/screening/outreach efforts that are happening in Androscoggin and Oxford Counties, both to avoid duplication in our efforts and also to prioritize program goals that are in alignment with the areas of greatest need in terms of cancer diagnoses. Simultaneously, the Dempsey Center has delivered a number of cancer health outreach education programs in 2009, including: Exploring Financial Resources to Manage Medical Care Costs (collaboration with Seniors Plus) Finding Reliable Cancer Information Managing Cancer-Related Pain Eating Well for Optimal Health During Cancer Treatment & Beyond Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue CMMF Staff Inservice: Understanding Death & Dying Practices of the Somali Culture and Providing Culturally Competent Care Food for Life – Eating Right for Cancer Survivorship (in collaboration with The Cancer Project, a non-profit organization in Washington DC dedicated to advancing cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education.) Interactive Sun Safety/Skin Cancer Prevention education and displays at: Hillview Resource Center (sun safety program for children) Night Out Celebration at Kennedy Park, Lewiston CMMC Employee Health Fair Bridgton Hospital’s “A Day in A Woman’s Life” (Women’s Health Fair). Parkview Hospital’s 50th Anniversary Celebration and Community Health Fair We know that there are many citizens in Central and Western Maine who do not access health information that is delivered on the hospital campuses, and we are looking forward to bringing more of our cancer prevention/awareness education and outreach programs out into the community, such as at soup kitchens, in churches, at community-based senior dining centers, and in local public housing complexes.  While doing so, we will be striving to build the capacity of community leaders within these populations to deliver the message regarding the importance of cancer prevention and early detection to their communities.