For The State Journal

MORGANTOWN — Two north central West Virginia hospitals have launched a joint fundraiser to benefit patient care and cancer research.

Proceeds from a double prize basket giveaway slated for Nov. 16 will benefit the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and the Oncology Fund at the Monongalia General Hospital Foundation.

The Huggins Endowment Fund was started by West Virginia University’s head basketball coach Bob Huggins and his family in honor of his mother, who succumbed to colon cancer in 2003.

“It is imperative that we find a cure for cancer,” Bob Huggins said in a release. “My family thought this would be a way to not only honor my mother but to also aid in cancer research and treatment. It is important to keep the money that we raise here, at these two outstanding hospitals.”

The fundraiser is modest in comparison to other research fundraisers. The tickets for the prizes are $5 a piece or six for $25, 15 for $50 or 35 for $100. “This fundraiser is a way for an average person to contribute to the campaign,” said Robin Straight, MSW, state representative for the National Family Caregiver Association and coordinator for the fundraiser. “We kept the price low so that it is very affordable.”

Straight, whose family also was touched by cancer, said the association hopes to sell 1,000 tickets and split the money between the two hospitals.

Mon General Hospital's anticipated $2,500 take is earmarked for a new piece of patient monitoring equipment.

“This equipment, which costs about $2,700 per unit, helps us do continuous monitoring. When we use chemotherapy some drugs can cause reactions and we need to monitor these patients closely to avoid side effects or identify them quickly,” said Ellison Ponzurick, oncology service line director at Mon General. “We would have to supplement the funding, but we could get one unit and that would be great.”

Mon General Foundation executive director Bill Hennessey says most donations come in small amounts.

“If we get $5,000 between the two hospitals I think it would be a successful venture,” he said. “It’s not a big fundraiser, but it is a thoughtful effort by a caregiver and the caregiver group.”

At Ruby Memorial the money from the fundraiser will be added to the Huggins endowment for research.

“Pennies make dollars; it absolutely adds up,” said Will Armistead, director of development of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center. “We receive many more small gifts than we do large ones. Like every other nonprofit, we couldn’t survive without those small gifts.”

Ten dollars from every sale of the latest Huggins bear will be also be added to The Norma Mae Huggins Endowment Fund. Armistead said they hope to sell 5,000 bears.

The identical fundraiser prize baskets are filled with the needs of the adamant WVU basketball fan in mind. The prizes, tucked into a Longaberger basket include:

• The latest version of the Huggins Bear signed by Bob Huggins
• The team’s new home game shirt autographed by the team
• Basketballs autographed by the 2008 and 2009 teams
• A pair of WVU basketball game tickets
• A set of Betty Puskar cancer awareness Fiesta ware
• Dinner and an overnight stay at the Waterfront Place Hotel.

The drawing will be held during the Bob Huggins Sports Line radio broadcast at the Waterfront Place Hotel Nov. 16.

Tickets are available at area retailers and by calling the Mon General Foundation office at (304) 598-1208.