Phoenix Cancer Support Network Looks To Build Bright Future

PHOENIX, AZ — Jenny Martin found her life's calling in some of the darkest hours of her life.

Martin, who spent much of the last two decades working in either the pharmaceutical or medical profession, found that calling as her sister, Annie, battled a rare form of bone cancer in 2005.

It was that experience, and the grueling ordeal that many cancer patients have to go through in their journey toward recovery, that motivated Martin to start a cancer support network of her own.

Martin did just that in 2017, launching Phoenix Cancer Support Network, which aims to help cancer patients and their families navigate the process by removing much of the burden from them.

The organization does so by helping cancer patients and their loved ones find providers, in addition to providing home caregiving, cleaning, pet setting and other activities.

Martin said the operation is 100 percent donor funded, which is why she and her team decided to take part in the ninth iteration of Arizona Gives Day, a 24-hour statewide online fundraising event held on April 6.

Phoenix Cancer Support Network is looking to raise $10,000 in Tuesday's fundraiser, which would be a definite lifeline for her operation.

According to Martin, PCSN had to spend close to $130,000 on transporting cancer patients alone, which speaks to the immense overhead the organization faces.

Much of that money is used by people who have no other alternative to get the care they need, Martin said.

"I've got people who are taking the bus to radiation sick as a dog, and then they're trying to get home that is just not going to be effective in getting them the desired outcome of getting through this journey in a positive way," Martin said.

"So we set high goals, especially for Arizona Gives Day, because we feel that it will make sure people understand that we keep every single dollar in our community."

Martin emphasized that all of Phoenix Cancer Support Network's staff are volunteers, meaning every dollar raised on Tuesday goes toward those that need support the most.

"Ultimately, we're completely reliant on donations to be able to even help anybody," Martin said. "And once the money is gone, we can't help anybody.

"I've literally had to take money out of my personal bank account to bridge us until we can get some donations going again. So we're really in need of that cash infusion."

As of Monday afternoon, Phoenix Cancer Support Network had raised $626 from two donors.

Martin is hopeful that a late surge in donations is on the horizon, however.

She also believes that taking part in the yearly fundraiser can alert the public to the services that Phoenix Cancer Support Network provides, which is huge in itself.

"We want to make sure that, by participating in programs like Arizona Gives Day, that people know that we're here for them," Martin said. "And we're waiting to answer any questions about going through cancer that we can."

Above all, Martin wants the general public to avoid going through the ordeal that her family did 16 years ago.

"All the work that I've done professionally in business development and administration has been with cancer patients and cancer donors," she said. "So the cancer experience has not left me. And it's really driven me to see what those gaps are for these people and what's needed and where Phoenix Cancer Support Network can help bridge some of those gaps."

Click here to view Phoenix Cancer Support Network's Arizona Gives Day page.