Halt Cancer at X gives to community support effort

After another exceptional fundraising year for Rebecca Farm’s Halt Cancer at X initiative, $80,000 was awarded to a local support organization and a national research project in the fight against breast cancer.

Sarah Broussard, organizer of The Event at Rebecca Farm, announced the award recipients Thursday at The Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science at Flathead Valley Community College.

Broussard said the Halt Cancer at X committee decision was unanimous to give $30,000 to the newly established Kalispell chapter of Cancer Support Community Montana, which is affiliated with Kalispell Regional Medical Center. The funding will be used to build a teaching kitchen.

“People going through treatment have difficulty with the taste of foods and survivors want to eat healthier to reduce fat where cancer likes to hide,” said Jennifer Schaffner, director of Kalispell’s Cancer Support Community.

The kitchen will be built in a home-like facility designed to provide support, education and hope for people impacted by cancer. 

“A home-like environment was something that was necessary, that was a must; and where’s the heart of every home? It’s the kitchen,” Schaffner said. “And we thought about how many people with cancer need to change their diet, need to think about healthier lifestyles, or just need to gather around the cupboard and talk.”

Along with physical care, Schaffner said emotional support “parallels a cancer patient’s journey.”

“Twenty-one years ago there wasn’t a whole lot of emotional support for people with cancer, and actually, there wasn’t a whole lot for cancer patients in the valley at all and you’ve started seeing it grow in the last five 10 years it’s been booming,” Schaffner said.

Schaffner noted that it was the first grant she has applied for.

“The Cancer Support Community of Kalispell is brand new,” Schaffner said. 

“It is so new we don’t have a phone number yet.” Schaffner said later, adding, “Now we have to find a building. We have three different options the hospital is looking at. I’m thinking by next summer we should have one.”

Halt Cancer at X also continued its support of a research project working toward preventing breast cancer progression through a better understanding of mammary tumor cells. This is the third year Halt Cancer at X has given $50,000 to the project.

The telomere study is being conducted by Dr. Mario Capecchi at the University of Utah, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at the University of California and Simon Titen at the University of Utah.

Although the researchers were unable to attend the awards presentation, they provided comments in a press release.

“The support from Halt Cancer at X has allowed us to complete careful, rigorous science and build a strong foundation from which we hope to take great leaps forward to eliminate breast cancer,” Capecchi said.

Halt Cancer at X was started in memory of The Event at Rebecca Farm founder Becky Broussard, who died from breast cancer.

“I know my mother had great plans, aspirations and inspirations and designs on what The Event [at Rebecca Farm] could accomplish and I was like, ‘What can I do?’ and Halt Cancer at X was born and hopefully she likes it,” Sarah Broussard said with a smile. 

Last year, Halt Cancer at X funding made it possible for Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s Oncology service to expand a local mobile screening program and also to develop a Mind, Body, and Spirit Retreat.