Brain Cancer and Brain Tumor Patient Advocate Hosts Their Patient Support Services Center Grand Opening and Celebrates Opening Their Doors to the Public
Redmond, WA (PRWEB) January 16, 2014 -- The Chris Elliott Fund (CEF) announced the grand opening of their Patient Support Services Center, a space devoted to serving brain cancer and brain tumor patients, their families and caregivers. The open house and ribbon cutting was on January 3rd at the Redmond, Washington center.
The Chris Elliott Fund’s open house and ribbon cutting welcomed Redmond City Council Member Hank Myers as the ceremony’s official ribbon cutter. The event also featured a roadshow with the Seattle-based glass candle holder company glassybaby; 10% of their proceeds from the evening went to the Chris Elliott Fund. The event was supported by sponsor Foundation Medicine, a company that specializes in one of the nation’s most comprehensive and physician-friendly genomic profiling tests.
The Chris Elliott Fund was originally co-founded in 2002, 3 weeks before Chris Elliott passed away from brain cancer, by Chris and his wife Dellann. After Chris’s passing Dellann became a patient advocate and crusader against brain cancer, providing patient support and education to patients. Over a decade later Dellann and the Chris Elliott Fund officially moved into their Patient Support Services Center and offices that will allow their services and capacity to continue to grow.
The Chris Elliott Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to provide patient support, education, and advocacy specifically to brain cancer patients and their families. When Chris first began his battle with glioblastoma brain cancer (the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer) he and Dellann realized that there was no standard protocol to refer patients to advanced treatment options (like clinical trials), to refer patients to brain tumor specialists, or refer patients to a brain tumor center noted for their excellence. They also realized that genomic sequencing and DNA testing were not standard despite its critical influence on identifying if standard protocol would have any effect positive effect on the patient.
The Chris Elliott Fund presently exists to change that standard protocol through a multi-faceted advocacy program, including housing a call center where patients and caregivers can call at any time. Chris Elliott Fund’s licensed MSW staff are available to answer questions about finding and setting appointments with a second or third opinion on their tumor treatment plan, resources and assistance in working with insurance programs, opportunities in advanced treatments, information on genomic sequencing and DNA testing, and medical device treatment options. They also assist with emotional support, help with logistical needs, and assistance with complementary therapies.
“There are a number of issues a brain tumor patient may encounter through their journey, anything from clinical questions to assistance finding a contractor for installing safety railings in their home, we do it all,” said Dellann Elliott Mydland, Chris Elliott Fund’s Founder and President. Mydland emphasized how important having a partner in this fight is, a partner that knows the ins and outs of brain cancer treatment, “someone that gets you to the right treatment at the first treatment. Unfortunately, a decade later, that is still not happening,” says Mydland.
The Chris Elliott Fund welcomes visitors at their new offices. For more information call their toll free call center at 1-800-574-5703 or email WeCare(at)EndBrainCancer(dot)com.
About The Chris Elliott Fund
The Chris Elliott Fund (CEF) is a brain cancer and brain tumor patient advocacy organization and national 501(c)(3) non-profit with offices in Redmond, Washington. Established in 2002, Chris Elliott Fund’s mission is to end brain cancer by expanding patient access to specialists, advanced treatments and comprehensive support programs. The organization and its advocates directly serves 1300+ patients and caregivers every month free of charge. CEF is a member of the Society for Neuro-oncologists, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, American Cancer Association for Cancer Research, Washington Biosciences Association, among others. If we can help, please contact us at WeCare(at)EndBrainCancer(dot)com.
Rachel Tougher, Chris Elliott Fund, http://www.chriselliottfund.org, +1 (253) 651-5331, [email protected]
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