A cancer diagnosis changes every aspect of life. Relationships may be strained by difficult emotions, self-esteem may suffer from the side effects of treatment, and finances may be stretched to the breaking point. There is no time when a friend is needed more.

The Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center offer support and encouragement to men, women and children who are battling cancer by providing the personal comfort and special care of a good neighbor. Since 1984, the Friends, a volunteer organization, has helped fund patient and family education, support and counseling services, relaxation and coping classes, and an emergency account for families struggling with the economic demands of treatment and living with cancer.

Please help us continue to provide essential resources and services to members of our Cancer Center community. For more information on how to become a member of The Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, please call (617) 726-1063. If you would like to make a gift in support of the Cancer Center, you can do so here using Massachusetts General Hospital's secure online giving form. Please note that it will say "Friends of the MGH Cancer Center" in the "Other" field indicating your gift is in support of the Friends of the MGH Cancer Center Fund. You can also e-mail the Friends to learn about other ways to give.

How the Friends Offer Encouragement and Hope
Through the generosity of individual and corporate donors, the Friends are able to fund these and other important programs for cancer patients and their families:

• Support of the Maxwell V. Blum Cancer Resource Room, an inviting place where patients and families can get information from knowledgeable staff, books, brochures, and reliable Internet sites
• Funding assistance for the Network for Patients & Families, which matches patients with those having a similar diagnosis and lifestyle
• Creation of educational booklets and videos in English, Spanish and other languages
• Growth of the HOPES Program, which offers yoga, massages, acupuncture, music and art therapy, educational seminars and workshops
• Contributions to The Howard Ulfelder, MD, Healing Garden, a rooftop sanctuary
• Provision of magazines, toys, music and refreshments for cancer patients
• Support of a newsletter written for patients and families by patients and families
• An emergency fund for families coping with cancer
• An annual award to an oncology nurse who is pursuing further education in cancer care

Annual Benefit

For the past 16 years, The Friends of the MGH Cancer Center have been holding an annual fundraiser during the month of November. Typically attended by 400 to 500 guests, this well-loved, catered cocktail party and private shopping extravaganza has been held at fun Boston venues such as FAO Schwarz and Barnes & Noble. This year’s event will be at the Crate and Barrel at 777 Boylston Street in Boston on November 13, 2008. The store will close to the public at 6 p.m. and reopen exclusively for our guests at 6:30 p.m. Michael Schlow, chef and owner of Radius, Via Matta and Alta Strada restaurants will be signing copies of his cookbook. Local interior designers and private shoppers will be on hand to assist with holiday decorating and shopping suggestions. And as always, terrific prizes will be raffled off during the evening.

Over the years, The Friends have raised over $4.4 million for the programs we support.  For more information on tickets or this year’s event, please click here or email the Friends. For information on how you can support the Friends by shopping at Crate and Barrel the week of November 10, 2008, please click here.