For Steven Higman, a 64-year-old Navy Veteran, supporting the HOPE (Helping Oncology Patients Everyday) Fund provides personal solace and gratification.

Steven and his late wife, Joyce, made Longs, SC, their home eight years ago. After traveling the world, Steven delights in all the outdoor amenities available in the area. He is an avid fisherman, boater, gardener, animal lover and notorious storyteller.

However, in December 2020, following three years of struggling with undiagnosed health issues, Steven found himself in the McLeod Health Seacoast Emergency Department. A complete work-up by doctors resulted in a diagnosis of Stage IV renal cancer for Steven. He was immediately referred to Dr. Glenn Gangi to remove the affected kidney.

After healing from his procedure, Steven was referred to McLeod Seacoast Oncologist Dr. Donny Huynh to begin his cancer treatment.

“I am incredibly grateful that the dedicated medical professionals at McLeod Seacoast discovered and are treating my cancer,” shares Steven. “I believe my condition would have been fatal. They saved my life.”

Steven, already fighting a demanding battle, faced a deep emotional setback eight months after his diagnosis. Joyce, the love of his life, succumbed to her own battle with cancer.

Dealing with grief while in active treatment inspired Steven to look for ways to help others who face individual struggles during their cancer journey. He found his answer in the McLeod HOPE Fund. Steven has become a generous supporter of the HOPE Fund knowing that his gifts will help cancer patients with critical needs like transportation, nutrition, rent assistance, supplies and medications.

For a man who relishes time outdoors, long hours in treatment can be especially debilitating. Steven has personally benefitted from a new program established through the HOPE Fund: Pet Therapy. While patients receive treatment, volunteers bring certified pets to provide comfort and distraction for cancer patients like Steven who are enduring long, sometimes grueling treatments.

While grief originally led Steven to become part of the HOPE Fund family, gratitude now guides his giving as he joins donors like you who generously provide for cancer patients.

Each Fall, local businesses and community members come up with creative ways to raise funds in support of McLeod Health Mammography Services. This year, the most critical need was a new mobile mammography unit.

Rick Havekost, owner of Micky Finn’s in Florence, was made aware of one such local effort through West Florence High School Senior, Addie Bausmith. Addie was involved in “Pink Out,” a day of breast cancer awareness and fundraising started by Ruiz Foods in 2010. Addie’s focus was raising funding for the new mobile unit.

A few weeks later, Rick was approached by Joan Billheimer and Kaye Floyd-Parris, dedicated supporters of McLeod Health and the McLeod Health Foundation.

Both cancer survivors, Joan and Kaye were instrumental in raising funds for the original McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit.

Their passion to eliminate barriers to care for women in the region continued through their support of the new mobile unit.

Joan and Kaye explained to Rick how the current mobile unit began experiencing wear and tear due to its age. After more than a decade on the road, it became obvious that a new unit would be needed to continue saving lives in the region.

After hearing from others of this crucial need, Rick was moved to be a part of “Pink Out.” He decided that Florence’s two Micky Finn’s locations could support this project in a unique and impactful way.

Every Friday in October, Micky Finn’s donated all wine profits to support the initiative. Each of those five Fridays, Rick and his team proudly donned pink shirts, and posted reminders and calls to action to their loyal customers via social media.

At the end of the month, Rick and his team, with the support of the Florence community, had raised more than $10,000 toward the new mobile unit.

“Our Micky Finn’s team was inspired by the generous community of supporters who joined in this important effort to fund a new mobile mammography unit,” Rick said. “We were proud to be a part of the ‘Pink Out.’”

In 2019, Morgan and her husband, Josh, settled blissfully into family life with their new son, Ryan. Then, Josh began experiencing an unusual pain in his abdomen and back. The otherwise healthy 29-year-old teacher and football coach decided to consult his family physician Dr. Prakash Beeraka. Tests revealed frightening results.

Josh was diagnosed with a rare testicular cancer, which required immediate and aggressive treatment.

He was quickly referred to a team of physicians including Dr. Wayne Holley, Dr. Amy Murrell and Dr. Rajesh Bajaj.

As Josh experienced the side effects of chemotherapy, Morgan felt blessed that they had the ability to pay for his treatment as well as essential pain and nausea medications.

As a pharmacist working in the McLeod Cancer Center, Morgan knew this was not necessarily the case for all patients.

“I read the names of patients as their charts came across my desk each day, knowing that many had no insurance or the ability to pay for what they needed,” Morgan recalled. “It was such a great relief to know that the HOPE (Helping Oncology Patients Everyday) Fund was there to bridge that gap for them.”

In the midst of their journey, Morgan received a postcard in the mail from the McLeod Health Foundation about a new service available to donors: FreeWill.

FreeWill allows those who do not have a will to create one easily and for free. Morgan tucked the postcard away and vowed to come back to it later.

The following year, Morgan and Josh decided to create their will. Keeping with their desire to help others, they included the McLeod Foundation as a beneficiary.

“After walking through this cancer journey, we knew we needed a will, especially for our young son,” Morgan shared.

As Josh continues to recover, the young couple has returned to their focus on helping others. This year, they joined the McLeod Foundation’s young giving society, the Circle of Excellence, allowing them to give back to the hospital they love.