The BMCF Mission

The Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (BMCF) supports patients ages 18-40 as they undergo cancer treatment. It provides services to meet daily needs that are not covered by insurance. Typical grants cover $600 worth of medical co-payments, rent and mortgage, transportation, car insurance, repairs, and groceries. 

Since Brenda founded it in 2001, the Fund has provided $185,000 to assist 260 young adults across 20 different states. She built it for young adults her age to maintain self-respect during months of treatment and minimize the stress of associated financial challenges. Even though she is no longer with us, we are working to fulfill Brenda's vision of a nationwide support organization that helps young adults fight - and beat - the disease. 

Download our 2007 Annual Report

What We Have Done Lately

by Dan Chapman, BMCF Program Manager

In the Fund’s 6th year, we have done some great work, even in the midst of a baby boom amongst our volunteer pool.

• Our generous donors have touched 85 young cancer patients so far this year.  The depth of support is impressive.  We are talking about 52 women and 33 men in 20 states. 
• By dispersing $45,000 through November this year, we helped 48 recipients with their mortgages or rent, 10 recipients with their utilities, 8 recipients with their car payments and insurance, 7 recipients with groceries, 7 recipients with medical bills, and 5 recipients with various other needs.

The details are where the real story is told.  We have provided support to several college students.  One of our recipients is an aspiring young recording artist from New York.  Another is a Los Angeles based comedian, writer and public speaker.  We helped pay a hotel bill for a woman who was seeking housing for herself and her children.  We helped a young lady who was featured in an article in a leading popular national magazine this summer.  As radiation and chemotherapy can cause infertility, one young man asked for help with freezing his yet healthy sperm.  Despite his current condition and thanks to the generosity of our contributors and the hard work of our volunteers, he will be able to have a family in the future.

Of course, there are some things that are difficult to convey in this post.  Sometimes it’s the crack in the voices of the recipients as they say thank you.  Sometimes it’s the excitement of a recipient who just found out that they are actually getting help.  Sometimes it’s the tired voices that let us know that you are truly helping people in need.  But there is always a "Thank You."  The one thing that we wish to convey from all of our recipients is THANK YOU.  Thank you to our contributors, volunteers and the friends of Brenda Mehling who were inspired to create and lead such a wonderful organization. 

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