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Signed Paddle
Lance Collins, second from right, and his wife Stephanie, third from right, with members of the DKH Oncology team holding a kayak paddle signed by participants from the 2018 Paddle for a Cure event, now in its 8th year and organized by Collins and his family to benefit patient care at the Rose Bove LaRose Cancer Center at Day Kimball Hospital. Courtesy photo.


PUTNAM — The eighth annual Paddle for a Cure raised $9,500 for the Rose Bove LaRose Cancer Center at Day Kimball Hospital. The funds will support the Cancer Center’s efforts to continually provide the most up to date facilities and technologies for the patients who receive care at the nationally accredited cancer center each year. Last year more than 5,700 treatments were provided in their infusion clinic.
Paddle for a Cure is a kayaking event founded and organized by northeastern Connecticut native Lance Collins, an avid kayaker who has lost five family members to cancer, most recently his uncle in 2010. His uncle’s passing prompted Collins to organize the first Paddle for a Cure in 2011. The annual event has now raised more than $74,000 in total for the cancer center at Day Kimball Hospital.
“We are so grateful and humbled by the generosity of Lance Collins and his family,” said DKH Director of Critical Care and Cancer Services Carolina Starr-Manning. “Year after year Lance’s dedication has continued to benefit the care of those fighting cancer in our community. The money raised at this year’s event will be used towards the purchase of three new, state-of-the-art patient beds that will deliver the most advanced standard of care to our patients and caregivers. We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this without all that the Collins family and team have done.”
DKH Director of Development Kristen Willis said: “Once again, we are so appreciative of what Lance and his family have done and continue to do to benefit DKH’s cancer patients. Raising nearly $10,000 for our Oncology Department at this year’s event is truly remarkable, and just goes to show that their loyal and steadfast commitment to DKH and our Oncology program is above and beyond!”

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