In a move to bolster local health care options, the Douglas County Commissioners have greenlit a grant of $1 million to AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Foundation for purchasing a cutting-edge Vision RT Radiation Therapy system, "a huge step forward for Douglas County," says Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle, he represented the Board at the foundation's fundraising gala, going so far as to personally present the big check.
The cash influx, sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act's interest earnings, is earmarked for Castle Rock Adventist Hospital's oncology services expansion, for too long Castle Rock residents have had to venture beyond their borders for advanced cancer care, a gap this project aims to bridge.
“You don’t know that Castle Rock does not have cancer care until you need it,” said Marcy Blair, Chair of the AdventHealth Castle Rock Foundation Board, as per Douglas County. After enduring her extensive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, Blair's battle underscores the vital need for local cancer treatment options.
Commissioners are viewing this investment not just as a health initiative but also as an economic stimulant, creating jobs contributing almost $5 million in annual wages, and generating additional income through related industries, not to mention the potential boost in local tax revenues and this scheme of betterment, both the body and the purse should find relief and growth.
The partnership between local government and the health foundation doesn't just spotlight societal camaraderie but stands as a testament to the fortitude of human compassion when faced with the pervasive threat of illness, Commissioner Abe Laydon voices his support, “Providing cancer care where there was none before is a powerful investment that we believe will truly save lives and make a meaningful difference for good in our community,” as obtained by Douglas County.
With the $1 million secured, AdventHealth is still on its mission to gather the full $14.1 million required for the state-of-the-art radiation center as they pace forward to close the funding gap.
