XENIA — Greene Medical Foundation continues to support those battling cancer, and recently awarded $63,000 from its own funds, along with an additional grant the Foundation received from Gala of Hope Foundation, to continue an exercise and nutrition program for cancer patients.

The program is offered to patients at the Cancer Centers at Greene Memorial and Soin Medical Center, and coordinated by Maple Tree Cancer Alliance in Dayton. Maple Tree is the brainchild of Dr. Karen Wonders, a professor at Wright State University, who is passionate about the benefits that exercise and good nutrition can offer cancer patients as they go through treatment.

“The Maple Tree program is a way to give cancer patients a real renewed chance at life,” said Greene Medical Foundation Board Member Cheryl Lightle. “We all agree it is so important for the Foundation to support projects like this. We have seen patient results, with some even coming through their cancer treatment with more endurance than before they started treatment. This program truly improves the lives of its patients.”

The Maple Tree is already helping more than 250 patients at both Cancer Centers after Greene Medical Foundation previously awarded a $55,000 grant to initiate the program in 2016. It is offered free of charge to every patient as part of their treatment plan.

Lightle said, “We feel very responsible for the money that we give out. It is so important for us to provide grants like this as we see its benefits in every patient we help.”

Cheryl knows first-hand what it’s like to go through chemotherapy and she knows it’s so important for patients to regain strength and get their bodies back to physical health.

“This translates not only into improvement in physical health but to emotional well-being,” she added. “This program provides inspiration and guidance – something that all cancer patients should experience. The Foundation is very pleased to offer all of this to them with this grant.”