Carson City Rotary Club aims to help Cancer Center

The Carson City Rotary Club announced Friday the Carson Tahoe Regional Cancer Center will receive the benefits of their fundraising efforts.

The Rotary Club has committed to raise $200,000 over the next three years for the cancer center.

"Cancer strikes every family," said John Allen, president of the rotary's Carson City chapter. "We are excited to help build a world-class cancer treatment facility here in Carson City, so patients and their families in Northern Nevada don't have to travel out of state for these life-saving services."

Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare officials say the new $11.2 million Carson Tahoe Cancer Center will put five different services under one roof. And that roof over a 33,000-square-foot, two-level center is expected to be completed in September. Located in the new hospital campus off Medical Parkway in north Carson City, it will be the only fully accredited, free-standing cancer center in Nevada.

This year's fundraising event is the USO-style Victory Dinner and Dance to be held May 20. The event, at the Sterling Air Complex at the Carson City Airport, will feature big-band entertainment, military airplane memorabilia displays and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $100 each.

"Our fun will help create one of the most needed medical facilities in Northern Nevada," Allen said.

In December, a Carson City family donated $1 million to cover the construction of 15 cottages on the hospital campus for patients undergoing heart surgery or cancer treatment.

The Merriner family made the donation, which follows its first $1 million donation in spring 2004 and a $50,000 donation for the planning and architectural drawings of the cottages.

In January, a Dayton artist vowed to raise $200,000 through the sale of his prints.

Steven Saylor's piece, "A View from Within," features a drop of water breaking the surface tension of Lake Tahoe. The hospital's logo is inside the water drop.

Saylor, a full-time artist since 1978, is best known for his "The Heavyweights" lithograph prints that sell for $10,000 each.

And high school senior, Natalie Bergstrom has set out to raise $4,000 for the center as part of her senior project at Carson High School.

"As executive director of the foundation and a very proud Rotarian of eight years, I couldn't be more happy that the club has chosen to support this fine project," said Pam Graber, Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Foundation executive director.

For more information on the Rotary dinner call 888-1122. For information on the Cancer Center call 886-7371.