Impact Stories

In December, donors in southwest Michigan gathered at Ascension Borgess Allegan, Ascension Borgess Kalamazoo, and Ascension Borgess-Lee in Dowagiac to celebrate the annual Tree of Love campaign with tree lighting ceremonies. These events offered a chance to honor and remember loved ones impacted by serious health challenges.

While the ceremony in Allegan was canceled due to weather, the tree was still lit as a symbol of hope and community unity, honoring those touched by health challenges. In Kalamazoo and Dowagiac, donors braved the cold to attend and light the trees in memory or honor of loved ones.

The Tree of Love campaign raises funds for lifesaving breast cancer screenings and recently expanded to support heart care and the HOPE (Helping Our Patients in Emergencies) Fund.

Thanks to generous donors, over $59,000 was raised to help patients in Allegan, Kalamazoo, and Dowagiac. Over the last ten years, funds raised have provided more than 620 patients with over 1,700 free services and procedures.

Patients like Julie, who has been a supporter of the Tree of Love campaign and attended the lighting ceremony at Borgess for many years, have taken the need for early detection to heart. It was hearing the stories of women’s lives being saved by early detection that prompted her to start getting yearly mammograms. Because of that awareness she was able to catch her cancer fairly early. She still has some treatments ahead of her but her future looks bright. She is enjoying each day with her husband, children and grandchildren– while she continues to advocate for early breast cancer detection screenings for all women.