Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has just announced they are cutting 76 staff members and eliminating 81 open positions. The center, known for its dedication to cancer and related disease research, was having economic issues prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but the financial impact of the country shutting down led to these job eliminations. The Administrative Division, not researchers, were hardest hit by these layoffs in an effort to preserve the research goals of the group. The president of the center, Dr. Thomas Lynch, said "The steps we have taken, including today's reduction in staffing, are all aimed at preserving the strength of our science and our ability to fulfill our mission far into the future."
The Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is not the first to cut jobs in an effort to allocate money towards cancer research goals. The American Cancer Society also recently announced that they will layoff 1,000 workers because they are not generating enough money through fundraising. Now, more than ever, fundraising efforts are crucial for helping maintain cancer centers and their research projects.
Read MoreHelping Out With Fundraising for Cancer Research and Care
Both celebrities and others personally affected by cancer in one way or another have attempted to help raise awareness and money in support of cancer patients. Cancer patients’s needs don’t shut down just because the world shuts down. Stars like Patrick Dempsey, Fran Drescher, and Elizabeth Hurley have taken it upon themselves to help raise money in support of cancer patients knowing that cancer will not stop along with everything else that is being delayed or cancelled because of COVID-19. RELATED: Cancer Research Funding Slashed Due to Coronavirus Huge Setback Just As The Oncology Treatment Revolution Begins to Save LivesElizabeth Hurley’s Fundraising to Help Cancer Research
On May 20th, Elizabeth Hurley posted on Instagram urging fans to join her for the Virtual Hot Pink Party to help support finding a cure for breast cancer. Hurley’s grandmother died of breast cancer so the cause is personal for her.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAankI0lEB5/
In her post, Hurley asks fans to donate anything they can “because every 2 minutes a woman somewhere is diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer doesn't stop for COVID-19 and neither can we. There are millions of people around the world depending on lifesaving research.” She was able to raise over $5.2 million for breast cancer research via Zoom.
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Patrick Dempsey’s Contributions to Cancer Care
Actor Patrick Dempsey also lost a loved one to cancer, losing his mother to ovarian cancer in 2014. Because of this personal account, Dempsey is a major advocate for cancer research and fundraising. He founded the Dempsey Center, which is a center dedicated to helping cancer survivors through fundraising, workshops, and counseling. On May 6th, he posted the video below to his instagram asking fans to donate to his nonprofit in support of cancer patient care and providing online resources for cancer patients.
RELATED: Passionate Cancer Advocate Patrick Dempsey Says "It's A Beautiful Day To Save Lives"
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_2jifih2Bk/
Fran Drescher Giving Back to the Cancer Community
Like Hurley and Dempsey, Fran Drescher also has her own history with cancer, being diagnosed with uterine cancer over 20 years ago and celebrating being 20 years cancer free on June 21st. As a means of celebrating her milestone while also supporting her nonprofit Cancer Schmancer, Drescher held a virtual cabaret with fellow artists to raise money.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBqdUXqlNHR/
RELATED: Fran Drescher's Advice on How to Handle a Cancer Diagnosis
Ways to Help Support Cancer Research
You do not need to be a celebrity to help out with supporting the cancer community during COVID-19. Many people have been taking it upon themselves to organize their own events like cancer walks, making face masks to use for fundraising, or a bike riding event to garner financial support for pediatric cancer research.
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People can also show support by reaching out to someone they know with cancer and seeing how to be of help. There are many ways for people to help combat the burden that COVID-19 has placed on the cancer community.
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