Guidelines for Assistance

Following are the guidelines, based on the bylaws of the Fund, for determining if an applicant qualifies for assistance.

• The patient must be diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment or seeking further diagnostic services for the cancer. Dr. visits or treatments for other conditions are excluded.
  
  
• The patient must be a current resident of the St. John Valley as it is described in Section 2.1 of the bylaws.
  
  
• The applicant must be the family member or identified support person who will be accompanying the patient to his/her appointment. The check will be written to the family member or identified support person and the patient.
  
  
• The applicant must be a current resident of the St. John Valley as it is described in the bylaws. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are family members residing outside of the Valley if the patient does not have family residing in the St. John Valley. Those applications require approval from the Board’s Aid Committee.
  
  
• Overnight stays are considered for distances beyond 100 miles or if the patient has treatments two days in a row and the family member or support person stays overnight with the patient in a location of less than 100 miles (i.e. Presque Isle)
  
  
• The family member or support person must complete an application and provide verification of the appointment for which they intend to accompany the patient. A note from the doctor’s office or clinic must be attached to the application. (A verification letter is provided with the application.)
  
  
• Assistance is granted for forthcoming appointments and retroactive appointments when applications, verification, and overnight receipts are submitted within a month of the appointment.
  
  
• The Fund is very generous in granting up to $3200 a year of financial assistance to a cancer patient’s family. To assure the sustainability of the Fund, exceptions or increases are no longer possible.
  
  
• A list of other resources will be provided to the patient and family when they do not qualify for assistance based on the intent of the fund, the bylaws, and the above guidelines. (i.e. Assistance for transportation for patients that allow family members to accompany them on that assistance. Angel flights are available for travel to Portland and Boston.)

Requests that do not meet the above criteria will be forwarded to the Aide Committee and they will respond to the applicant with a letter explaining the reason for the denial.