Thompson Middle School Students’ Donation to Fund Meaningful Tradition for Patients Completing Chemotherapy at Day Kimball Hospital

The Oncology Department at Day Kimball Hospital received an unexpected cash donation of $108 on Friday, October 7, presented to the staff in person by the president and vice president of the Thompson Middle School PTO. The funds were raised by TMS students through a program that allows them to wear a hat to school on half-days in exchange for a $1 donation. For each half-day, the students select a cause they’d like the day’s donations to benefit, this time choosing the Rose Bove LaRose Cancer Center at Day Kimball Hospital.

Though the donation was unexpected, the oncology staff at Day Kimball had an immediate idea on how to put the funds to good use.

“In other cancer centers, when a patient completes their chemotherapy regimen they get to ring a ship’s bell that is stationed within the chemo room. We’d like to use these funds to purchase a ship’s bell of our own and have it installed in our chemotherapy infusion suite, so that our patients can have a physical and meaningful way to mark the completion of their chemotherapy treatment,” said Linda Daniels, administrative coordinator for the hospital’s Oncology/Hematology Department. 

The students included a signed poster with the donation, which Daniels says will be hung in the Cancer Center’s waiting room to cheer patients and let them know about the donation and the intent for the funds. 

About the donation, Day Kimball Healthcare Director of Development Kristen Willis said, “I often comment on the extraordinary generosity of citizens in our Northeast corner of Connecticut, but this is a true example of just how deeply it has been woven into the fabric of our community. It is heartwarming and quite encouraging to see how informed these youngsters are about the needs of others and how willingly they respond. The best part is that they are not only learning about the importance of giving, they are having fun and experiencing the joy in doing it.”

Pictured above from left to right: Day Kimball Hospital Oncology Receptionist Lauren King, Thompson Middle School PTO President Shannon Julian, Oncologist Dr. Jie Yang, Thompson Middle School PTO Vice President Mary Poulin, DKH Oncology Nurse Denise Spirito; DKH Pharmacist Eileen Berti; and DKH Oncology Nurses Renee Delude, Michelle Donahue, and Megan Belanger.

Related Resources

Integrated Care: Cancer Care
Locations: Day Kimball Hospital: Rose Bove LaRose Cancer Center 
Supporting Patients & Services at Day Kimball Healthcare