Personal Experience Inspires Family to Devote Time and Energy to Helping Breast Cancer Patients Become Survivors
Kay and Tom Finger continue to inspire us as they make a difference at Mission year after year through their leadership, their time and their compassion.
Nineteen years ago, Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a survivor, and her experience motivated she and her husband Tom to embark on a crusade for what is now the Breast Program at Mission. "Imagine hearing for the first time that you have breast cancer," explained Kay. "It devastates you and your entire family. My first thoughts were: Would I live, and if so, how long? How would this disease affect my husband, my parents, and my three small children? It totally consumed my daily life! My husband and I received a variety of treatment options. It was confusing and overwhelming. We thought to ourselves: There must be a better way to determine the best treatment option for survival!"
Over the years, the Fingers have worked tirelessly to support the development of Mission's Breast Program, which now offers a comprehensive, coordinated approach to breast cancer treatment, complete with a nurse navigator to help guide and advocate for the patient throughout the process.
In 2006, a generous financial gift from the Fingers launched the Breast Program Endowment Fund which will help sustain and augment available resources for all women in need for years to come. Kay and Tom are pictured below during a celebration dinner at the Biltmore Forest Country Club.
In 2007, Kay co-chaired the inaugural In Good Company Classic, a charity golf tournament to benefit Mission's Breast Program. In 2008, she co-chaired the event once again with Candy Shivers, and this time the event included golf, tennis, a cooking demonstration and a breast cancer panel of experts. She and Tom together were the title sponsor through their company TLF, Inc. They continue to generously give their time, talent and dollars to raise money for the Breast Program Endowment Fund to help all women receive proper care during their breast cancer treatment.
