Chatham Teen Raises Funds To Comfort Cancer Patients, Caregivers

CHATHAM, NJ - Fourteen-year-old Charlotte Egan knows firsthand that cancer treatments can be exhausting and stressful—not only for cancer patients, but also for their caregivers and family members.

Egan watched her father, Graeme, go through cancer treatment at Summit Medical Group (SMG) more than two years ago and that left a mark on the young Girl Scout.

“She remembers being in the waiting room while I was undergoing treatment and what it felt like – not knowing what would happen,” said Graeme Egan, who was treated for throat and neck cancer at SMG in 2016 and currently has a clean bill of health.

This year Egan set out to help others during a similar time of need and as part of her Girl Scout projectraised $4,000 to help purchase a “comfort cart” for the Summit Medical Group Foundation and its free programs to help provide comfort and compassion for patients and their caregivers at the SMG Cancer Center.

With the funds raised through her Girl Scout fundraising project, Charlotte’s Comfort Cart was purchased and donated to SMG Cancer Center for cancer patients and their families to use while undergoing treatment. Her goal is to provide something for patients to do while they’re waiting for treatment, and to provide a distraction for caregivers.
“Having this cart will help patients and caregivers have a better experience,” she said.

The cart Egan purchased will have comfort items for cancer patients, as well as treats and activities for caregivers and family members. The cart will be sponsored through local businesses and will offer many complimentary items including socks, headscarves, crafts, Sudoku books, puzzles and holiday decorations.

Egan started her fund drive by writing to neighbors and friends with offers of babysitting, dog walking, helping with groceries, tutoring – anything to raise money. She also decided to put her plea out via social media as well.

“It’s about the cancer patients and the caregivers and everyone else. I want people to feel like they matter during this whole cancer process,” she said.

For more information on Summit Medical Group Foundation, visit the website.

(Photo courtesy of Summit Medical Group)

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.