An anonymous donor has made a major donation to the Havre Women’s Golf Association (HWGA) Assistance Fund in honor of the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center’s new doctor.
The donor gifted $25,000 in honor of Dr. Thomas J. Reid III, MD, PhD, FACP, to be designated specifically to the assistance fund “and to welcome him to his new chapter.”
Dr. Reid took over as the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center’s medical oncologist and hematologist in April.
The HWGA Assistance Fund grants up to $500 annually to eligible individuals with an active cancer diagnosis. The grant can be used to offset a wide range of expenses during treatment.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for this generous donation and for selecting the Havre Women’s Golf Association Assistance Fund,” said Havre Women’s Golf Association’s Shari Baltrusch. “We look forward to continuing this tradition. This is a great cause that benefits our local community, the Hi-Line and the surrounding areas.”
Baltrusch said that The Havre Women’s Golf Association and its Golf for a Cure Tournament have been raising funds for cancer patients along the Hi-Line and surrounding areas for 22 years, with its most recent tournament held June 6th in Havre.
Tournament fundraisers included a pint night at Triple Dog Brewery and a Las Vegas Trip Raffle donated by Northern Montana Health Care, as well as contributions from other individual memorials and generous community members.
Sarah Spangler, RN, NMHC’s Chief Nursing Officer and Director of the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center, said the golf association’s assistance fund makes a meaningful impact by providing funds that directly benefit local residents facing the physical, emotional, and financial challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
She said the $25,000 contribution not only enhances the fund’s ability to assist those in need but also celebrates the positive impact Dr. Reid brings to the region.
The money is distributed by the Northern Montana Health Care Foundation (NMHCF) through a simple application available at the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center and the Northern Montana Health Care website.
“In 2016, we joined up with the Northern Montana Health Care Foundation to distribute our funds to any individual fighting any type of cancer,” Shari Baltrusch said. “Since then, we have raised over $300,000.”
When Dr. Reid took on his new role, the cancer center had been without a permanent provider for over two years. Spangler said the cancer center is fortunate to welcome Dr. Reid, whose extensive experience and commitment to evidence-based, up-to-date treatment plans significantly benefit patients at Northern Montana Health Care. His presence ensures that individuals can access high-quality oncology care at home on the Hi-Line, further strengthening the community’s support network for those affected by cancer.
A highly respected hematologist-oncologist, Dr. Reid brings decades of clinical, research, and leadership experience to the Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center. His career includes senior leadership positions at Walter Reed, 27 years of service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, and a proven track record of developing nationally recognized cancer care programs, most recently serving as medical director of the Big Horn Basin Cancer Center in Cody, Wyoming.
Reid said he heard of the opening at Northern Montana Sletten Cancer Center and was eager to bring top-quality care to our rural community. Together, the golf association’s ongoing fundraising efforts and the addition of Dr. Reid’s exceptional medical expertise reflect Havre’s strong commitment to caring for its community during some of life’s most difficult moments.