All Heart
Ronnie Cathey’s Helping Hearts Fund aids patients facing cancer costs
For Dallas insurance broker and investor Ronnie Cathey, giving to UT Southwestern Medical Center is a simple act of helping others who are struggling.
“I’ve been blessed in so many ways. I had a pretty tough life growing up, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said, adding that “God’s blessings have allowed us to do this.”
Mr. Cathey understands challenges. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and received treatment at UT Southwestern.
As a survivor, he knows firsthand the profound anxiety that accompanies a cancer diagnosis. He also knows about the challenges of paying for cancer-related expenses such as drug treatments, doctors’ visits, imaging services, and other nonmedical costs.
“Without the amazing care I got from UT Southwestern, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “So, my feeling was I really wanted to help others.”
While watching the news one night, Mr. Cathey found his opportunity. An emotional report on NBC 5 DFW told the story of a Southern Methodist University assistant football coach stricken by cancer who also was losing the financial battle against the disease.
“I called up the coach’s wife and told her we’d be happy to help any way we could,” Mr. Cathey said. “Then I also called UT Southwestern to find out how I could assist their cancer patients with whatever I could offer.”
His empathy-driven generosity led to the creation of what he refers to as a Helping Hearts Fund that supports the everyday needs of cancer patients at UT Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“My goal is to take those little worries away.”
Because he’s navigated cancer treatment, Mr. Cathey understands the maze of obstacles patients face. He knows nonmedical costs pile up, from the price of high-calorie shakes needed to offset cancer-related weight loss to the expenses of living at a hotel for out-of-town patients who don’t live near a treatment center.
“Those are the kind of worries you don’t need when you are going through cancer treatment,” he said.
As the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Texas, the Simmons Cancer Center is a leader in cancer care and prevention. Mr. Cathey’s gift benefits the Center’s Support Services team that includes social workers, dietitians, and other care professionals who approach a cancer patient’s nonmedical care holistically. In addition to providing patient services that include stress-reducing music therapy or muscle-relaxing yoga, the team helps patients in need with everyday essentials such as groceries, temporary housing, or travel expenses for treatment.
“We are grateful to Mr. Cathey because he knows intimately what patients experience,” said Alexandra
Huffman, Manager of Support Services at the Simmons Cancer Center. “To have such an empathetic donor who opens his heart in this way – frankly it’s quite unique.”
