The Quality of Life Fund has just celebrated its 10th year. In that time, the local nonprofit has doled out more than $1 million in grants for valley residents battling cancer.
The fund was launched by Barbara and Bruce Berger. An employee of theirs was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago. She couldn't work during treatment and the Bergers helped her by paying some of her bills.
“Unfortunately, she passed away,” said Bruce Berger. “And when she passed away Barbara and I realized that if she was having these problems there had to be other people in the valley who were facing the same kind of difficulty.”
The couple began the Quality of Life Fund, providing grants to cancer patients to help with the soft costs that come with having the disease. Money is raised through an annual dinner that Barbara Berger plans and Bruce Berger cooks for. Soft costs means everything outside of health care expenses. After all, bills are still due for patients even if they're stuck in a hospital bed, getting sick after chemotherapy and/or undergoing a cancer-related surgery.
“The day that you get diagnosed you’re like, ‘Can I do this?’” said Maria Peterson, one of the more than 400 recipients of the grant.
In 2016, a routine mammogram for Peterson showed lesions, which can indicate breast cancer. She was immediately booked for a biopsy, which came back positive. Peterson lives in the valley with her husband and two children. They never thought they’d be asking for charity.
Peterson is a private chef. She had to cancel a lucrative list of summer clients while undergoing a double mastectomyand chemotherapy. She had health insurance through her husband's job, but no way to pay the rest of their bills.
“Everyone is like, ‘You need to move out of the valley, because why would you live here? This is so expensive,’” said Peterson.
But the Bergers don't believe a cancer diagnosis should mean moving away from your home and community. In the decade since the fund began, they have helped with rent, cell phone bills, school supplies and funerals.
Barbara Berger knows life’s routine errands can become insurmountable to those fighting for their life.
“It’s hard to believe in this community that there are people who can't afford the gas to go to treatment or cant afford a babysitter or a funeral,” said Barbara Berger. “It's hard to believe but you would not imagine the amount of people in that situation, it’s shocking,” she said.
Bill Graves is another recipient of a grant from the Quality of Life Fund. A private contractor, he found himself with nowhere to turn when diagnosed with throat cancer.
“Typical of a self-employed person in this valley, you have enough money to make rent and buy some groceries, and that’s about it,” said Graves. “You know, I had a little built up [but] within the first two weeks, my savings were gone.”
Graves felt he’d be a burden if he turned to friends to ask for help. What he learned through the Quality of Life Fund is that there are strangers out there that are more than happy to chip in for a neighbor.
“I don’t know if there is another area of the country where the community helps its people that are suffering,” said Graves, his voice breaking.
Community is what comes first for the Bergers, too. Barbara Berger was diagnosed with cancer 31 years ago. She said she is grateful she had the family support and financial resources to get through treatment, and she believes everyone deserves that quality of life.
“The simple things are the things we provide but they are the most important,” said Barbara Berger.
