About
Rosemary Gruner
Dear Friends and Supporters,
The 18th annual Bike for Cancer Care 2021 was a tremendous success. Thanks to all of you, we raised over $102,000. These funds allowed us to continue our mission of helping everyone who applies for assistance through the Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund. In 2021, we issued $55,000 to 115 patients/families. In the first quarter of 2022, we have already distributed $19,500 to 39 applicants. The Gruner Family are so very grateful for your participation and support.
Our mission is to provide those affected by cancer a sense of hope, courage and community. Our strategy is simple. We offer gas cards from Stewart’s Shops and grocery cards from Hannaford Supermarkets to patients diagnosed with cancer providing financial assistance in a confidential and compassionate way. Our hope is to alleviate some of the financial stress so patients can focus on their healing. In keeping with our mother Rosemary’s quiet spirit of generosity, we believe that our small gestures of support can be the hope a patient and their family needs to fight the illness. We have received many testimonials and notes of gratitude, so we know our support is effective and the need continues to exist.
The Bike for Cancer Care Committee, as we informally refer to as “our crew”, have begun planning for our 19th annual event, which will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Dietz Stadium. Please mark your calendar and invite your friends and family! Each year, we are astonished by the physical, emotional, and financial support the Ulster County community provides to this event. The event requires 125 volunteers to coordinate all the logistics by keeping our riders and walkers safe at intersections throughout the courses, creating a smooth registration process and cheering on those who participate in the annual event. Volunteers are so vital to the event’s success that last year, a new award was initiated. The “John Crews Volunteer of the Year Award” which was awarded to John (posthumously) and his wife Carol, who volunteered every year. Who will be this year’s Volunteer of the Year recipient? Come and find out!
In closing, thank you for choosing us as your philanthropic partner. Working with the Benedictine Health Foundation Board and staff, we are committed to and will continue to be, strong financial stewards dedicated to making the most of your giving. We are honored to work with 100’s of individuals, families, companies, and nonprofit organizations who have contributed to the event and the Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund administered by Benedictine Health Foundation. Your gift of time and monetary support continues to make a powerful impact in Ulster County.
Can’t wait to see you on September 25th!
Warmest regards,
Ellen Gruner Arsenault on behalf of the Arsenault, DiDonna and Gruner Families