Help us continue Jim’s legacy by supporting The Jim Bashaw Cancer & Catastrophic Illness Fund.

Jim Bashaw was a beloved teacher, guidance counselor and longtime girls’ basketball coach at BFA St. Albans. After being diagnosed with brain cancer in February of 2000, he valiantly fought his illness until his death on August 16th of the same year. Jim’s life and death affected not only his family and friends, but the entire community. To honor Jim’s memory, a fund was established to provide financial assistance to residents of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties who are experiencing catastrophic illness from cancer or other causes.

In 2000, the Maple Festival Sap Run, Relay, & Walk was dedicated to help raise funds to support Jim while he fought his illness. Jim’s family and the organizers of the event were amazed by the outpouring of support shown by the more than 700 walkers and runners who participated—and the countless others who sponsored participants or donated their time to organize the event. Over time, the Run for Jim resulted in its own event, held at Collins Perley each May, and now includes a run, a walk, and special races for kids. 

 

 
 

How the fund helps

Families often do not realize all of the costs that are encountered when a family member is ill. The fund can help provide financial assistance for items such as:
  • Medications
  • Medical equipment and supplies
  • Transportation
  • Private care/respite care
  • Nutritional support
  • Clothing/prostheses
Requests for financial assistance for items not mentioned above will be considered if they are determined to be as a result of the health care problem. For an official, signed copy of the fund description, click here.

Applying for funds

If you have been diagnosed with cancer or another catastrophic illness that will cause a financial burden on your family, and are a resident of either Franklin or Grand Isle Counties, you may be eligible to receive funds from The Jim Bashaw Cancer and Catastrophic Illness Fund. A member of the NMC Care Management team will work with you to explore all possibilities of how to support you financially during your illness. Sources of funding may include insurance benefits and entitlement programs, as well as the Jim Bashaw Fund. 

Use the button above to complete an online application form. If you would like to use a paper application form, click here to download and print the PDF form. 

For questions about submitted applications, call 802-524-8913.

Growing the fund

There are two main annual fundraisers for the Jim Bashaw Fund: The Run for Jim, and a Powderpuff football game. In addition to the funds raised through these two events, other funds are raised through:

  • Charitable gifts given in lieu of flowers in memory of a loved one who may have benefited from the fund; and
  • Designated charitable gifts to the fund through  Northwestern Medical Center.

If you are interested in making a contribution to the Jim Bashaw Cancer & Catastrophic Illness Fund, please call NMC’s Community Relations Department at 524-1280, or click the button below.