Published: July 01, 2009 09:39 pm      

Restaurant owners support cancer center

DANVILLE — Local restaurant owners celebrate the 10th anniversary of their business in the area this month with a campaign that benefits a local cancer center.

Deanna and Don Witzel have owned the county’s McDonald’s restaurants for a decade. In the meantime, the Witzel family has been supportive of local philanthropic efforts as a way of giving back to their community.

Now, the couple has decided to hold a campaign that benefits the Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Cancer Center, run by medical director Dr. Jo-Mel Labayog — as another way of giving back. The restaurants are selling $1 patches that will benefit the Provena foundation and be utilized for the cancer center. The Witzels will match the proceeds up to $10,000.

Labayog assisted the family through difficult period in recent years — a battle with cancer waged by Deanna’s mother. She died in the fall of 2008.

Labayog’s compassionate advice helped Deanna through the trial.

“I’d never experienced cancer before,” Witzel said.

Deanna knew Labayog through her involvement with the Provena foundation board. Witzel’s mother was living in Biloxi, Miss., at the time, but the doctor’s helpful advice traversed many miles.

“I called and asked him questions, and he gave me a lot of information and encouragement. He really helped me a lot personally,” she said.

Labayog helped Witzel ask her mother’s doctor the right questions, and gave her valuable information about treatment op-tions. He’d return her phone calls late into the night on his personal line.

“What I found just in talking to people, is everybody in the community feels that way about Dr. Labayog,” she said.

“He’s such a compassionate human being.”

Witzel’s experience — made easier by Labayog’s guidance — made the ordeal a little easier because she was armed with knowledge about the disease.

The Witzels want to give Labayog continued support and resources to continue his good work.

“We wanted to do something positive out of something so negative,” she said.

Witzel hopes to raise $20,000 with the campaign, and so far they’re well on their way. So far, they’ve sold 5,000 patches.

“It’s so encouraging to see the community come together for a common goal,” she said.

Chad Hays, vice president of the Provena foundation, said proceeds from the campaign pay for enhancements such as the park-like setting in the back of the hospital and expansions of the facility that allow patients to receive treatment near their loved ones.

The center recently added a linear accelerator, a machine that provides radiation therapy, which is one of the few in the nation.

Some additions to the center could include electronic information resources available in waiting areas that would help keep families abreast of the latest information on cancer, Hays said.

“These donations will allow us to continue to add amenities,” he said. “They’ll allow us to continue to invest in state-of-the art technology and provide assistance to patients who don’t have the means to get some of the durable medical equipment in their battle with cancer,” he said.

Hays said the foundation is grateful to the contribution of the Witzel family, who’ve always been supporters of Provena.

“We’re very grateful to have them as a community member and partner,” he said.

BUY A PATCH

Vermilion County McDonald’s restaurants will sell $1 patches in a Cancer Ribbon Campaign during their 10th anniversary celebration through July 11. Proceeds will benefit the Provena United Samaritans Medical Center foundation to be utilized for the cancer center. The Witzel family will match proceeds up to $10,000.

The ribbon drive is held in conjunction with McDonald’s appreciation week, which culminates in the “McPack the Place” eventat the Danville Dans game July 11 at the Danville Stadium. The Witzels will make a special presentationto Provena during the game’s seventh inning stretch.