MORGANTOWN — College Basketball Hall of Famer and former WVU Coach Bob Huggins came to Mon Health Medical Center Thursday morning to present a $380,000 check to support cancer care services at Mon Health Cancer Center.
Huggins raised the money for the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Endowment Fund at his 12th-annual Bob Huggins Fish Fry, held in April. He announced in February that the funds from the endowment, established by Huggins and his family in his mother’s name to support cancer care and research across West Virginia, would be directed to Vandalia Health — Mon Health’s parent system.
Mon Health’s oncology providers, leadership, and Mon Health Medical Center Foundation members attended the presentation.
Huggins’ mother died from cancer, he said Thursday. “I wanted to do something that would benefit the people here in Morgantown, really the people in West Virginia.”
So he started holding the fish fries. “I was blessed.” Basketball stars such as Charles Barkley, Jerry West, Hot Rod Hundley and more offered their support and came to the fries. “They’ve been absolutely fantastic.”
And for himself, “It’s a labor of love to do the right thing for people,” he said.
In July, Huggins and the endowment also gave $100,000 to Mon Health’s Vandalia sister, CAMC Beckley Cancer Center.
Mon Health President and CEO David Goldberg said more than 1,200 people attended the fish fry. “I’m elated” to see the support for the program and to partner with Huggins and his family. This was the second-largest gift ever received for Mon Health’s cancer program.
Vandalia has eight oncology locations across the state, including at Mon Health, that provide open access to care for people across the state, he said. The money will help support advancements in the program — such as a new linear accelerator, a new infusion center, new mammography equipment, and a new da Vinci surgical robot.
Mon Health also plans to deploy two new mobile units in the coming months, Goldberg said — a mammography unit and a mobile low-dose CT unit for lung screening. “We’re stepping up to make sure no one goes without being diagnosed for cancer or suspicion of cancer and get them into a medical home.”
Goldberg brought with him to the presentation a souvenir guitar he bought on auction at the fish fry. The white guitar, trimmed in gold and blue with the Flying WV logo, is covered with the signatures of prominent West Virginians, including Huggins, and will go on display at Mon Health.
Goldberg pointed out that he hasn’t been able to get actress Jennifer Garner’s signature yet, so he’s taped a picture of himself taken with her at a West Virginia event to the back of the guitar. Huggins said he’d work on getting her signature for Goldberg.
Vandalia Health treats more than 50,000 cancer patients annually.
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