Representatives of the Run for Jim recently presented Northwestern Medical Center with the proceeds from their 2016 walk/run event, totaling $7,000.

The Jim Bashaw Cancer & Catastrophic Illness Fund provides financial assistance to residents of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties who are experiencing catastrophic illness from cancer or other causes. The fund is named for Jim Bashaw, a beloved teacher, guidance counselor and longtime girls’ basketball coach at BFA St. Albans. His death in August of 2000 from brain cancer affected not only his family and friends, but the entire community.

So far in 2016, the fund has provided 49 grants to more than totaling nearly $24,000 in support. The Bashaw Fund helps people of all ages with things like transportation to medical appointments and out of pocket medical expenses.

Here’s a quote from a 2016 funding recipient: “Thank you so much for the generous grant to help me out with my medical expenses while going through my cancer treatments, my family and I appreciate this more than you know!”

The fund is supported through community donations and fundraising events like the popular springtime walk / run. Other events include the BFA-MVU Powderpuff football game which raised over $11,000 for the fund, NMC’s Bowl-a-thon raising $3,300 and the Hannaford’s Cares Recycled Bag Program.

New this year, applying for funding can be done online! Simply fill out the form by visiting: https://www.northwesternmedicalcenter.org/patients-visitors/pay-an-nmc-bill/free-care-discount-policy/jim-bashaw-fund/

For more information on the Jim Bashaw Cancer and Catastrophic Illness Fund, please call NMC’s Care Management team at 524-8479. If you are interested in making a contribution to the Fund, please contact Director of Development Jeff Moreau at 524-8467.