Swain Cancer Support has helped upward of 120 local cancer victims since its March 2018 founding.
“All the money raised stays in Swain County to help residents battling cancer,” said Cindi Woodard, president of the 501c3 nonprofit. “We gift a love offering to help with things insurance doesn’t cover such as co-pays, fuel and travel expenses.”
Swain Cancer Support will have a booth set up at the Bryson City Freedom Festival July 4 to raise money for cancer victims. Volunteers will sell water, T-shirts and bracelets. Donations are always accepted.
The nonprofit’s mission is close to Woodard’s heart – a Hodgkin lymphoma survivor.
“My motivation comes from being a cancer survivor,” she said. “I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma when I was 14 years old. It was March 1989.”
Woodard was trying out for the junior varsity cheerleading squad when she noticed a knot on the back of her neck. No pain was associated with the knot. It was immobile.
“My pediatrician wanted to do blood work,” Woodard said. “The bloodwork came back and before we left Sylva that day, he told my mom to pack a bag because he had an appointment for us at Chapel Hill with a pediatric onocologist. He was 99% sure I had cancer.”
Woodard was at stage 2B when officially diagnosed. Her family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill.
“We were there for a week when I found out that I had made the JV cheerleading squad at Swain High School, but I needed six months of chemo and one-month of radiation,” she said. “After three months of chemo, I lost all my hair.”
But Woodard and her family held strong to their faith.
“I believe everything happens for a reason and it brought my family closer together,” Woodard said. “My outlook on life today is to focus on the positive. The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
Woodard was declared cancer free in November that same year. Today, she is married with three grown boys, two grandchildren and a third on the way.
“God has been good,” Woodard said. “I do experience survivor’s guilt. That is a very real thing. As president of Swain Cancer Support, my joy comes from every person I get to talk to. Just hold on because there’s good that can come from it. You’re able to see things as simple like breathing as blessings. When we see people, they usually have tears pouring down. When you’re going through it, it’s hard.”
Woodard remembered the outpouring of love and community support she received after her cancer diagnosis.
For years, county volunteers participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
“One year, we raised over $100,000,” said Woodard. “In 2018, they sunset our team because the year before we only raised $30,000. All the money we raised went to American Cancer Society for cancer research. We started to back away the last two to three years because it was brought to light that the CEO of American Cancer Society makes mega bucks because they oversee all of it.”
The current CEO, Karen E. Knudsen, replaced Gary Reedy in 2021.
Knudsen earned a total compensation of $1,404,895 in 2023, according to Charity Navigator. This number included base salary, bonuses and other compensation.
“People in Swain County were like, ‘The CEO makes all this money? I can’t believe someone gets paid that much to do that,’” said Woodard.
Another group of people sought to take action.
Everyone in the group has had cancer or has been impacted in some way,” Woodard said. “We created our own nonprofit so that all the money stays in Swain County.”
They looked to Betty’s Place in Cherokee as a nonprofit model.
“They helped us by letting us know how they did things,” said Woodard. “We go out to different events like the Fourth of July festival, and we have our annual fundraising event in October. We did a fundraiser for someone in March and raised upward of $14,000. The TDA helps with advertising. Everything is documented. If you have cancer and you are a resident of Swain County, the process to apply is simple: fill out an application, show proof of your cancer diagnosis, give verification and the name of your diagnosis. I hate that part of it, but we have to report to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.”
The annual Swain Cancer Support fundraising event will take place at Riverfront Park Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can find Swain Cancer Support at the upcoming Bryson City Freedom Festival. Volunteers will be stationed at the end of Everett and Main Street.
Swain Cancer Support accepts donations throughout the year. Visit the Swain Cancer Support Facebook page to learn more. Swain Cancer Support can be contacted via Facebook Messenger.