“Where there is help, there is hope,” is the motto that the Ashland County Cancer Association lives by.  

This locally funded group helps any person with a cancer diagnosis that lives in Ashland County. Currently they are helping 350 patients.  

Once you walk into the office, you are welcomed with employees, willing to set their work aside and talk with a patient or caregiver that needs it.  

They have three main programs; financial, emotional, and nutritional support. Each of these programs directly help patients and/or their caregivers.  

Under the financial program, patients are aided with approximately $150,000 annually. As well as help with the cost of medication, mammograms, and travel expenses to and from cancer related appointments.   

Equipped with two vehicles, about 400 trips are made to cancer centers free of charge a year. These vehicles were purchased with the generosity of the county commissioner and an anonymous doner. These trips are anywhere within a 100-mile radius of Ashland County.  

As of right now, they have twelve volunteer drivers to drive patients where they need to go. 

The center also freely loans wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc. to patients if they need them. If the association does not have them in storage, they will cover the cost of one for the patient.  

They do not carry bras; however, if a patient needs one, the center will pay for them. 

Angela Woodward is the head of Ashland County’s Cancer Association. 

“Emotional support is probably one of the hardest [and] biggest [services] that we provide here. As you probably know it’s very sad when you hear the word cancer. So, a lot of times [patients] come in here, they’re pretty raw, [because] they just found out,” she said. “The emotions are pretty high, and [the] staff and I will take the time to just sit, talk, pray and love [the patients]. [We like to] let them know we’re here to walk beside them throughout their journey.”  

Bleeding into emotional support, the cancer center also provides free turbans, wigs, and all products needed to keep the wigs nicely cared for. They have a wide selection of different styles, colors, and sizes of wigs, and a diverse section of patterns for turbans.  

During Covid-19, they started a card ministry. In the cards you would find words of encouragement, prayers, and occasionally gift cards and phone numbers of workers to call and talk to. This ministry is still in the works today for both the patients and caregivers.  

 The center also helps cancer patients take care of their nutritional needs. 

“One of the most important things doctors have told us is, [patients] need to not lose any weight during cancer treatment no matter what their size. If you’re losing weight your body is trying to figure out how to heal that instead of the cancer,” said Woodward.  

Just last year, they gave away 700 cases of Boost Protein Shakes, each holding 28 bottles. They just started a protein pantry supplied with peanut butter, milk, eggs, and cheese. All of these are free to patients if they come to the office to get them.  

Ashland County’s Cancer Center is purely funded by grants, donations, the city of Ashland, gifts from the community, and what people leave in their wills. The Norma Foundation also helps fund this center.  

On Nov. 7, Ashland County’s Cancer Center will be holding their annual fundraiser “A Taste of Ashland” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

 Tickets are $30 dollars each for anyone over 11 and anyone under $10. This will be held in the second level of Ashland University’s Convocation Center.  

19 different restaurants will be represented at this family friendly event. There will also be a few raffle basket options as well as a 50/50 raffle.  

“I appreciate the support. We live in a wonderful community, [and] we are supported through businesses and individuals. I just want to say thank you to all those that do support us,” Woodward said. “I have a real love for my community and those going through this.”  

For those that may have doubts about the impact of this center, not only do those who utilize the center have good things to say, but ones who have won their battle against cancer do too.  

“They are worth your time and effort to see and talk with them They have a lot of resources they are willing to help with. This is something very unique to the city and county,” said Loree Ronk, an Ashland citizen currently battling cancer. 

“People don’t know I am a cancer survivor. I feel that my path was led here by God because of that cancer diagnosis and because of that diagnosis I actually was hired. On one of my stops in [the office to] turn [in] my travel log [and] get reimbursements, a job opportunity kind of arose through a conversation,” said Woodward. “So, I started working here, just very part time, during my cancer journey. [When] the director left they asked me to step up. I always think that it’s kind of cool how God moved that in my life to be able to help others.” 

The Ashland County Cancer Center helps hope flourish in those struggling in their battle.