Cancer Fund primed to surpass $20 million

COEUR d'ALENE — After 12 years in action, the Community Cancer Fund is primed to surpass $20 million in cancer resources invested into the region. 

Community Cancer Fund Executive Director Jon Neill said the organization’s focus has been to help those who are financially challenged in the fight against cancer.  

“It started as a backyard concert in Spokane to raise dollars for kids stricken with cancer and going to summer camp,” Neill said. 

The interest and community response were immediate. 

“It started with a Keith Urban concert and hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised at that first event in 2014 and then it grew to a celebrity golf tournament at The Resort on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene,” Neill said. 

As it gained momentum, it also evolved to serve the community's needs. 

“It wound up stretching far beyond kids and summer camp to supporting care and treatment as well as a focus on lodging with short-term needs while they received treatment here in the area,” Neill said. 

The big event is called The Showcase and is scheduled July 24 and 25 on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene with concerts and a celebrity golf tournament closed to the public. 

“For the exclusive event, we bring in sport heroes like Marcus Allen, Larry Fitzgerald and Tyler Johnson and several other notable names in golf to the Famous Floating Green Golf Course in Coeur d’Alene,” Neill said. 

There are 30 celebrity golfers and 600 attendees expected to participate in this year's event at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. 

The names of the bands for this year’s event haven’t yet been released, but past names have included Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Journey, Dierks Bentley and Zach Top.  

George Gee, general manager and Brandon Shinneman said the company signed on to support the event to “help strengthen the community we all call home.” 

Shinneman noted that past events through the Community Cancer Fund brought the community together and the funds supported people in need.  

“They fill the gaps. While insurance might cover treatment, it often doesn’t cover other expenses and this is the best organization, I’ve seen helping families focus on healing instead of worrying about finances,” Shinneman said. 

The money staying in the Inland Northwest means that George Gee’s support can directly make a measurable impact close to home. 

“Every dollar raised stays in our community and helps local families who are facing one of the most difficult times in their lives,” Shinneman said. 

One of the most direct applications has been the provision of resources to lodge families while they receive treatment. 

The Community Cancer Fund provided funding to build a Ronald McDonald House in Spokane and the Davidson Family Hospitality Center in Coeur d’Alene, serving Kootenai Health patients fighting cancer. 

The Fund has also supported a pediatric and oncology fellowship through Washington State University School of Medicine. 

“Whether it’s families or it’s adults, sometimes it comes down to whether or not they’re able to pay rent or pay for their fight against cancer,” Neill said. “We want to help them so that it becomes automatic that their support is available to continue the fight against cancer.” 

Information: communitycancerfund.org/

    “I am” is a recurring theme in The Showcase, meaning that everyone is affected by cancer. From left to right: Fritz Wolff, Ryan Gee and Jack Heath.
  

    Former Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder and actress Janet Gretzky hold the trophy after winning the ninth Showcase golf exhibition in 2023 at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course. Mulder won the gross title for the third time, while Gretzky claimed her fourth net title.