Erin's Wish

Schedule of Events 

9:00 a.m. Motorcycle run

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Kids games 

10:00 a.m. - gone  Food available for purchase from the Ironton American Legion

12:00 p.m. - 6 p.m. Dunk tank

2:00 p.m. Bags tournament - $20 per team 

Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places

2:00 p.m. Meat raffle sales

3:00 p.m. Meat raffle drawings

7 p.m.  - 11 p.m. Live music by "Get Over It" 

Cash raffle and raffle drawings all day long!!

Cash raffle from Cuyuna Fire Department

About the Courage Cabinet

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center is dedicated to enhancing and furthering the availability of services to cancer patients in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The organization's vision is that all who face cancer can do so with dignity, confidence, and serenity. CRMC's Courage Cabinet helps cancer patients experience better health and well-being by limiting financial challenges.

A cancer diagnosis can wipe out a person not only physically and emotionally but also financially. Cancer can quickly impose an economic burden on the patient and his or her family, especially for those in lower-income brackets. Costs for surgery, other treatments, and medication can mount, even if a patient has insurance and are dealing only with co-payments. If treatment at a faraway facility is recommended, long-distance travel costs can also quickly escalate.

To provide some relief to cancer patients who are in treatment and undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, CRMC established its Courage Cabinet. The fund helps families with non-medical needs, such as gas cards/vouchers for travel to treatment, hotel, and meals, meals on wheels vouchers, or groceries. Courage Cabinet funds can also be used to pay for any medical bills, drugs, and non-covered medical equipment, supplies, and dressings, if patient or his/her family or insurance is unable to cover the costs.

Courage Cabinet is open to all CRMC cancer patients in CRMC's service area. The goal is to assist and support each cancer patient who may need financial assistance relating to social determinants. The limit of Courage Cabinet funds is up to $1,000 per patient, per year. Additional gas cards may be distributed at CRMC's discretion.

Obtaining Assistance

Patients should approach the Cancer Care Center staff for assistance. The Oncology Social Worker or Care Coordinator will meet with the patient and provide him or her with an application. Requests are reviewed as needed by CRMC's Courage Cabinet Committee which consists of the Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Director, and Foundation Coordinator. The committee determines award amounts and issues checks. The Oncology Social Worker and Care Coordinator distribute fuel cards as needed. 

Providing Support

Courage Cabinet funds are received through CRMC's annual Kaleidoscope fund-raising event and the generosity of local donors. Every dollar donated stays local and goes to local families. The CRMC Foundation has served as the fiscal agent for the fund since its inception and provides all administrative duties without a fee.

 Donations are used to:

• Provide medications, equipment, travel assistance, and other items to patients experiencing medical issues
• Help pay for services for those who don't have insurance or are under-insured

Your gift to the CRMC Foundation allow us to do what we do every day - help patients!  

In Loving Memory of Erin

Erin Brodhead lost her fight with colon cancer in December 2021 at 50 years of age. 

Brodhead's last wish was to give back to the Courage Cabinet and for others to be able to benefit from her loss. Her son Reid Peterson worked with community members to help inspire the creation of Erin's Wish as a fundraiser for CRMC's Courage cabinet. Brodhead was a recipient of Courage Cabinet funds when she urgently needed support.