Pratt County lost another role model with the recent death of Martha McFall. However, the Martha McFall memorials will add to the resources available for low income families who are fighting cancer. The spouse of Albert McFall was also known for her kindness. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Albert McFall Fund in 1983 when Albert succumbed to cancer.
This is the only cancer fund in Pratt that directly helps cancer families with non-typical cancer related expenses. There is no funding mechanism to keep this fund going so it depends on community gifts to keep it going.
The family established the McFall fund in 1984 with $1,000 in memorial contributions. Now Martha’s memorials of $3,327 will help keep the McFall Fund alive for another year and the memory of Albert and Martha will continue. The McFall Fund usually provides $2,000 to $6,000 a year in assistance to families.
Included in the memorial gifts was a challenge gift. An anonymous Pratt family wanted to encourage additional gifts to the fund which helps cancer patients and their families. A gift of $1,200 was given to help stimulate additional gifts for the 2010 year. The Foundation hopes to establish a McFall Endowed Fund to improve the cash flow which sometimes gets below $100.
Periodic contributions and memorials have kept enough money in the account to help low income Pratt County cancer patient families. The fund is managed by the Pratt Health Foundation (PHF), and all contributions are spent on Pratt County families.
“I am hopeful that people will continue to become aware and make a donation to the McFall fund to keep it alive,” PHF Executive Director, DeWayne Bryan said. “The McFall family started this fund, which continues to help meet the needs of low income families to help pay for travel, baby-sitting, food and lodging expenses, which are not covered by insurance, other cancer organizations, Medicaid or Medicare. Sometimes families have exhausted all of their personal resources fighting cancer and need help.”
People fighting cancer, who need help, can contact Pratt Regional Medical Center’s Social Service department to obtain information about the McFall fund. It is designed to provide immediate funds for lodging and/or travel costs associated with caring for a cancer patient who is being treated in another city, or even paying child care costs while a spouse is unable to care for their children while attending to the cancer patient. To date thousands of dollars have been disbursed to families fighting cancer.
Those who desire to make a contribution to the McFall fund should either contact the Pratt Health Foundation (672-6411) or mail a gift to 203 S. Main in Pratt.
