Blue Envelope Health Expo

The Cancer Division of the Blue Envelope Health Fund is committed to improving the health and well-being of oncology patients.

Patients and their families experience care and compassion through the patient assistance fund, emergency medication fund, continuing education for oncology medical professionals, and purchase of medical equipment to aid the professionals and community. The availability of support services are the reflections of a dynamic and active involvement of the Cancer Division of the Blue Envelope Health Fund.

Contact for assistance:

Division Chair: Mary Jo Daniels

Michelle Nash (307) 233-4731
Mary Jo Daniels (307) 577-7938

History:

    Chemical treatment of cancer was just beginning in the 1950s. The Blue Envelope Cancer Division literally brought Oncology to Casper. The Division provided funds for chemotherapy to patients prior to insurance coverage of "experimental" drug therapy. For several years the Cancer Division provided Chemotherapy to uninsured victims of the disease.

    Early grants were given for cancer research, and the Cancer Division funded the first "Cancer Bed" for research in Wyoming through cooperative funding with the Damon Runyon Research Foundation, named for the famed sports writer and author who died of throat cancer. Blue Envelope donated $3,000 to the Damon Runyon fund. Soon after, Blue Envelope was recognized and received $5,000 to fund cancer research in Casper from the Runyon Foundation.

    Another early project was funding the beginning of a Tumor Registry in Wyoming in 1962. Now called the Wyoming Cancer Surveillance Program, the registry documents many facets of each individual case of cancer in Wyoming such as demographic information, medical history, diagnostic findings, therapy and follow up. Information is reported to central and national registries thus helping residents of our own state as well as citizens across the U. S.

    Ongoing educational opportunities such as conferences and seminars for medical personnel help assure quality care in our community. The Cancer Division is proud to support this effort financially. In 1987 Terri Marnell and Gail Kennah were the first nurses in the state to earn Oncology Nursing Certification.

    Support for "Home Away from Home" and "Luther Home" gave out of town patients affordable housing during treatment. In 1995 this Division purchased an Oncology van to provide transportation for patients to and from treatments at the medical center. The Cancer Division supports the George Kelly Pain Management Fund at WMC, the Cancer Resource Center, individual assistance, emergency medication funds, medical equipment purchases, and helps patients enroll in pharmaceutical scholarship programs.

Click here for a full list of equipment purchased by Blue Envelope Health Fund.