Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe joined representatives from the Walmart Foundation and CARTI at a news conference yesterday to announce a $60,000 grant being presented by the Arkansas retailer to the radiation therapy provider.

The grant will specifically support CARTI transportation services and needs throughout the state, including van transportation for patients to and from treatment and fuel vouchers for qualifying low-income patients.

“This extraordinary gift is so valuable, not only to CARTI, but more importantly to the patients we serve,” said Jan Burford, CARTI president and chief executive officer.

“When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, they face a whole new world of worry and decision,” said Burford.  “Thanks to this incredible donation, transportation will not be one of those worries facing a CARTI patient.”

“The gift Walmart has given us this morning is not only financial,” said Burford.  “It is also a testament to the belief they have in us to be good stewards of the faith and funds they invest not only in us, but also into the lives of our patients. Through their generosity, Walmart is joining CARTI in bringing the fight to cancer.”

While the company is supportive of a great number of worthwhile charitable causes, Walmart officials said it is particularly satisfying to support charities such as CARTI because of the shared home-state connection.

“As an Arkansas-based corporation, Walmart is proud to support an organization like CARTI and to recognize their solid, proven reputation of providing the finest radiation therapy available to cancer patients right here at home in Arkansas,” said Vicky Luman, market manager for Walmart in Central Arkansas.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation first began its support of CARTI in 1990.

“It is our hope that this donation will serve not only as a financial pledge to CARTI, but also as a pledge of Walmart’s unwavering support of those whose lives have been and who continue to be impacted by cancer,”  said Luman.

A founding member and past president of the CARTI/Searcy Auxiliary, Beebe currently serves as a director emeritus on the CARTI Foundation Board of Director.

“My first exposure to CARTI came when a dear relative was diagnosed with cancer and was referred to CARTI to receive radiation therapy as part of her treatment plan,” said Beebe.

“What they did for my own relative is what they continue to do for every patient that walks through their doors,” said Beebe.  “They made both of us, patient and caregiver, feel secure in placing our hope, and indeed, our lives in their hands because we trusted that they were not just fighting cancer for us, but instead, it felt like they were fighting cancer with us.”

According to CARTI Counseling and Resources Coordinator Olivia Wyatt, the Walmart grant will go a long way in assisting CARTI cancer patients who might otherwise struggle for any number of reasons with transportation issues, even those as simple as getting to and from treatments.

“A patient facing cancer is facing enough life-altering worries without having to worry about how or if they can get to and from treatment,” said Wyatt, a licensed social worker.  “Transportation to and from treatment is not a luxury for cancer patients, it is a necessity.  After all, cancer provides its own transportation as it invades the body.”

“The amazing generosity of Walmart will definitely help to ease the burden on the lives of several cancer patients across Arkansas,” said Wyatt.

CARTI is a nonprofit radiation therapy center with facilities located throughout the state in Little Rock on the St. Vincent, Baptist Medical Center and UAMS campuses, as well as in Conway, Mountain Home, North Little Rock, and Searcy.