Overview

Douglas Run/Walk for the Cure provides aid to individuals afflicted with cancer in the community of Douglas, Arizona with grants that can be used for reimbursement of medical costs, travel costs, and or other medical bills. All proceeds that we receive stay in the community and surrounding areas.

Here we present some general and frequently asked questions regarding our charity. Of course, we can't cover every conceivable topic, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

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Frequently asked questions

About our charity

Do you give charitable grants to medical clinics or do you give the funds directly to patients?

Because the grant money we disburse is not intended to pay for medical treatment directly, all the money we give me give directly to patients. This is because a given patient is the best judge of how to spend money for incidental purposes related to treatment.

In other words, the amounts of money we give out would be too little to cover treatment directly, and at best could be used to cover co-pays, fuel for gas to travel to and from distant clinic, a few hundred dollars to subsidize the cost of renting an apartment in Tucson for a course of treatment, a week for cosmetic purposes after chemotherapy, miscellaneous medical supplies, and so on. We generally leave it up to the patient to decide what expenses in some way related to the patient's treatment the money we give him should be used for.

How do you find patients to give money to?

We give charity out in many different ways. Often times it'll be by word-of-mouth. Sometimes patients contact us directly.

Are your donations ever anonymous?

Not usually. As a matter of diligence, it's usually required for one of our committee members to speak to a patient directly. However, our charity operates under total confidence, both by law and by our own ethical standards. We never disclose information we've received regarding patients, to third parties, without first getting the express permission of the patient in question.

Do you assist people living in nearby towns, such as Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Wilcox, etc.?

Generally not. The boundary of eligibility for our aid recipients is not strictly defined, but it includes the town of Douglas, Arizona and nearby farms, ranches, and people living on land outside the city limits.

Do you assist residents of Agua Prieta, Mexico or the broader state of Sonora?

Unfortunately, our donations and revenue are not of the necessary magnitude they would need to be in order for us to assist persons residing outside of Douglas Arizona and its immediate environs. We hope to be able in the future, but at present, we cannot.

What is the average dollar amount of your charitable disbursements?

Broadly speaking, the average dollar amount we give out to anyone patient at one time is around $500. This also represents what we would normally consider the maximum amount we gave anyone patient at any one time, so that we may be able to assist many patients. In addition, we sometimes disburse smaller amounts, usually to patients we have already assisted in the past, for immediate use, such as to fill up a tank of gas.

 

What is the application process to receive aid?

Again, there is no formal application process. If you are a patient diagnosed with cancer, either you or someone you know should go ahead and contact us so that we can start the conversation and see if there's anything we can help you with. Our charity is not ruled by strict protocol, but these focused on helping patients in flexible and everyday ways. We understand that some patients are shy or uncomfortable with asking for aid, but we remind the public that interactions with our staff or committee members are entirely confidential.

What types of requests do you usually deny?

So long as the intended purpose for the funds is broadly or loosely related to the expense or difficulty of getting treatment for cancer, we don't turn people away. Within those boundaries, so long as we have money in our account, we're here to help.

I have insurance. Does this mean I am ineligible or less eligible for aid?

No. We recognize that even with full health insurance coverage, co-pays, deductibles and medications can quickly add up. Those interested in receiving aid who have health insurance are just as eligible as those without any health insurance at all.

About the Turkey Trot

Where Does the Turkey Trot take place, and what are the events?

The Douglas Turkey trot, our charity's main fundraising event, happens every Thanksgiving at Airport Park in Douglas, Arizona.

Where does the revenue raised by The Turkey Trot go?

All of the money raised by this event goes toward the budget of Douglas Run/Walk for the Cure, which is the official name of the nonprofit

organization founded by Linda Gomez nine years ago that runs the event. While some of the revenue goes to purchasing materials, such as custom printed T-shirts, our staff is entirely comprised of volunteers and no one draws a salary. In fact, on average about 90% of our administrative expenses for the year, or about $6000, consists of expenses directly related to mounting and managing our Thanksgiving run.

What is the average number of participants every year?

On average, some 500 people show up every year. Some are spectators, some are competitive runners on a semi professional level, and some are just out for a good walk. Additionally, some donors send in their check but for various reasons are unable to attend the actual event.

Have any former or current cancer sufferers or aid recipients participated in the Thanksgiving run?

Yes. Dozens of former and current recipients of aid participate in the event, and some even end up making donations themselves.

Is the competitive 5K race appropriate for runners at an advanced, semi professional or professional level?

Yes. We would encourage serious runners to attend our event. Participation for an adult is only $25. Our 5K course has been laid out to exact specifications, and we employ a sophisticated timing system to keep track of participants and give them an accurate measurement of their performance.

Does one have to participate in an athletic event?

No. There's plenty to do at the Turkey Trot besides our races and walks. A DJ will be there playing music, and there will be food and refreshments.

 

 

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 November 2010 20:16 )