The V Foundation in Cary, North Carolina, will help raise funds for the new cancer center at St. Helena Hospital, one of the major projects of the recently announced $27.5 million capital campaign for the hospital.
The V Foundation has pledged $250,000 in direct support for the center and will help raise additional funds by featuring the cancer center at this year’s V Foundation Wine Celebration as the beneficiary. The Wine Celebration, held in Napa Valley since 1998, is one of the largest charity auctions in Napa Valley. The two-day event will be held August 3 and 4. The V Foundation was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano to fund cancer causes.
Officials expect to raise more than $1 million at the prestigious event.
The Hospital’s new 12,500 sq. ft. comprehensive Cancer Center will occupy the entire top floor of the new Cancer and Outpatient Surgery Pavilion, scheduled to break ground later this year. It will have radiation oncology; chemotherapy suites; a patient restoration and therapy spa, a cancer resource center, and a special needs boutique.
Next to heart disease, cancer is the leading cause of death in California. Of California’s 58 counties, Napa County had the tenth highest incidence of cancer cases diagnosed from 1998-2002. Lake County, where about one third of St. Helena Hospital’s patients live, had the third highest incidence in the state.
To date more than $15 million in funding and pledges has been raised to support the campaign. For more information, visit. www.sthelenahospital.org

—By Troy May

Posted on January 19, 2007 03:33 PM