Cancer patient fund created

Fostoria's Susie Shiff well recalls the extra expenses that emerged when her late husband, Jeff, fought colon cancer more than a decade ago. "There are a lot of extra costs that become involved when you have to deal with something like that, like gas, going back and forth (for medical care), eating out or just making the person comfortable," she said. Jeff Shiff died in 2008. But his legacy has lived on, in part through the Jeff Shiff Run the Res 5K and 10K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run, a Shiff family endeavor which has for several years raised funds for the ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Cancer Center. On Wednesday, the hospital foundation announced the launch of the Jeff Shiff Run the Res Cancer Patient Support Fund to assist patients with the direct and indirect costs associated with cancer care. According to a news release from ProMedica, the fund assists patients who find themselves in emergent financial need while they are receiving cancer care at the ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Cancer Center. Possible areas of assistance for applicants are health supplies, medications, health equipment, rent, utilities, car payment, car insurance, dental care and transportation. The Run the Res, typically held in the spring but canceled last April due to the coronavirus pandemic, is the significant contributor to the foundation's launch of the fund, according to the news release. Though the race had been contributing to the hospital for years -- Susie Shiff worked at FCH for nearly 40 years and "it wasn't hard for me to decide what I wanted to do with the money," she said -- in 2018 it designated the funds toward the establishment of the patient support fund. "We wanted to be able to even help the community more and help individuals who live within the community," said Betsy Bringman, a daughter of Jeff and Susie Shiff. In keeping with the theme of the fund, it's off to a speedy start, Bringman said. "It's just started and we've been able to help two people so far," she said. "... To get that email (saying) that we've helped our first person just really felt good. It's just a wonderful feeling to be able to help others. Just being able to spread that positivity in the community has been wonderful. "And I think when you're on the receiving end of that, when you're going through something such as cancer, it makes you feel good that there are people out there who are willing to help you." The 2021 Run the Res event is scheduled for April 18, with a portion of the proceeds again going toward the patient support fund. For more information, contact Susie Shiff at 419-435-1772. For more information about the patient support fund, contact the FCH Cancer Center at 419-436-6626.