LIGHT - About Us

Mission Statement

The purpose of LIGHT (Long-Term Impact through the Gift of Hope and Treatment) is to raise funds to assist individuals diagnosed with cancer who need financial assistance for treatment.

Additionally, LIGHT strives to raise awareness within our community to the tremendous hardships some patients diagnosed with cancer face and the growing need to reach out with assistance to help removed the financial obstacles that present so many from receiving necessary treatment.

What makes LIGHT different from other groups?

LIGHT does not discriminate based on diognosis. There are many groups that raise funds for specific cancers, such as breast or prostate. LIGHT raises funds to help ALL cancer patients regardless of which cancer they are fighting.

Many groups support cancer research on a national basis. LIGHT is locally based and helps cancer patients in Lee and Collier County.

Many groups have high administrative cost. LIGHT is locally run by volunteers. All profits go directly to help the patients defrey tratement costs.

Everyday people are forced to make decisions on whether or not they can afford to seek life-saving treatment for their cancer. The cost of treatment can be devastating even with insurance coverage to help pay costs. Many times the patient has to choose between mortgage payments and treatment. Many patients have deductibles of $3,000 to $12,000 or more before insurance pays at all. Co-pays or coinsurance can run 10-70% of the cost of each treatment. Many policies, including Medicare, do not have a stop loss so the cost are ongoing with no cap on the amount a patient has to spend to continue treatment. Mounting bills increase family pressure at such a difficult time.

Most compassionate programs help the uninsured, but not the "underinsured". LIGHT aims to provide the support individuals require to access treatment. LIGHT recognizes that even with insurance the patient can be facing loss of income and mounting bills. This added pressure adversely affects the patient and their family when there is an increased need for emotional support.

It is the goal of LIGHT to assist the cancer patient and allow them to receive the life-giving treatment they need and focus on recovery. Won't you join us in giving the LIGHT of hope to them?