LEE'S FRIENDS:Helping People Live with Cancer

Description

LEE'S FRIENDS, an award winning area-wide support program for cancer patients and their families, was named after Lee Harkins who died of Hodgkin's Disease at age 16 on April 30, 1978. Lee had a vision to help others who might not be as fortunate as she. From her diagnosis in January 1977 until her death, Lee's admirable manner of dealing with her cancer included remarkable courage, humor and determination. Death was not an issue-living was. Even as she battled her disease, other patients were continually on her mind. After her death, Emily Filer, Lee's mother, established this non-profit program of outreach and service that transformed one remarkable young girl's vision into the permanent program of support that is LEE'S FRIENDS. The doors to LEE'S FRIENDS opened on March 1, 1979. The original mission and focus on cancer patients have never changed over the years. For over 35 years, the mission of this organization has been to offer person-to-person help and needed emotional and practical support to cancer patients and their families who are facing the crises of diagnosis and treatment of cancer. LEE'S FRIENDS works with patients of all ages and stages from diagnosis to cure or through death and bereavement. All services are free.