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Ann Nobis, Vicki Liesmann, Pat Burke, Krys Lewis, Sharrie Wellman

The community rallies behind increased access to cancer care for residents of southern Lee and Collier counties

June 1, 2023– Residents at the Bonita Bay Club donned hats and dapper attire for the 2023 Kentucky Derby Gala, raising $550,000 through ticket sales, sponsorships and live auction proceeds, to help the Lee Health Cancer Institute expand cancer care in Bonita Springs.

“Through fun, engaging events, the Bonita Bay community continues to prioritize health care for the community,” said Chris Simoneau, chief development, marketing and communication officer at Lee Health. “We are grateful for their support to expand cancer care, so their neighbors can receive world class care close to home.”

In 2021, residents of Bonita Bay Club made clear their advocacy and support of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic at Lee Health’s Bonita Health Center by announcing a $1 million goal to increase quality cancer care for the residents of southern Lee and Collier counties. This year’s Derby event brought the total raised by the Bonita Bay Club for cancer services to more than $1.5 million in three years. The generosity from the Bonita Bay community will enable them to name the infusion suite at the new clinic at the Bonita Health Center, as well as the pharmacy, for a total gift of $1.5 million.

The Bonita Bay community holds events all year and has been a key contributor in meeting the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation community challenge to raise $1.5 million in funds for expanding cancer care at the Bonita Health Center. Including a $1 million outright gift and the $1.5 million challenge gift from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the community has raised almost $5 million for the expansion of cancer services.

The new clinic is expected to be open in August 2023 and will include a 32-chair Infusion Center, four individual treatment rooms and 12 exam rooms to serve 30,000 infusions and 12,000 physician visits annually.

To learn more about the challenge and expansion of cancer services, visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/ChallengeAccepted.