Group of men and women in formal wearing standing together and posing for a photo.

Enchanted Evening Gala raises $73,000 for Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center

JEFFERSON, N.C. — Ashe Memorial Hospital and the AMH Foundation hosted an Enchanted Evening Gala on May 30, at Jefferson Landing Club.

More than 130 guests attended the event, which raised $73,000 for the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center. During the gala, guests enjoyed a Twilight Cocktail Hour with signature drinks, dinner, live and silent auctions and dancing.

Through the generosity of Ashe County donors, Ashe Memorial Hospital will be able to expand the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center by offering wigs for patients who have lost their hair because of chemotherapy and adding a new, upgraded treatment chair to improve patient comfort during infusion and chemotherapy sessions.

“The AMH Enchanted Evening Gala was a beautiful reflection of what makes the Ashe County community so special,” AMH Foundation Director Becky Pearson said. “Seeing so many people come together in support of the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center was both inspiring and humbling. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and guests whose generosity will help ensure that high-quality cancer care remains available close to home for the patients and families who need it most.”

A diagnosis of cancer is life changing, not just for the patient but for that patient's loved ones. At Ashe Oncology and Hematology, we understand the uncertainty that comes with cancer, and we work quickly to deliver accurate diagnoses and world-class treatment so you and your loved ones can rest assured you are receiving the best care available.

In addition to providing chemotherapy, the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center is a full-service infusion center. Through sponsorship and community support of the gala, Ashe Memorial Hospital will be able to ensure Ashe County residents can receive high-quality, patient-centered cancer care close to home. For those already facing the physical and emotional challenges of illness, the ability to access treatment here in Ashe County means greater comfort, preserved dignity, and the invaluable support of being near family and community—without the burden of traveling long distances for care.

“Cancer doesn't care about zip codes — and neither should access to exceptional treatment,” said Dr. Ayla Kessler, Medical Director for Ashe Oncology and Hematology. “Nearly all of us know someone who has faced this disease: a parent, a neighbor, a friend. When that diagnosis comes, patients shouldn't have to travel hours from home during the most challenging moments of their lives.

“The expansion of the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center will create more patient-centered infusion spaces, improve access to advanced therapies, and ensure families can receive world-class care close to home — surrounded by the people who love them and the community that knows their name,” Dr. Kessler added. “This project is more than a renovation. It's a promise that when our neighbors face their toughest days, they won't face them far from home.”

For more information on the Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation and how to support Ashe Memorial Hospital, please visit www.ashememorial.org.

About Ashe Memorial Hospital
For more than 80 years, Ashe Memorial Hospital’s dedicated team of board certified physicians, nurses and staff members have provided the highest quality medical care available to the people of Ashe County and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Ashe Memorial Hospital offers a wide variety of emergency, elective, rehabilitation and preventative health services.

Founded in 1941, Ashe Memorial Hospital is a fully accredited 25 bed critical hospital located in Jefferson, N.C. For more information, please visit ashememorial.org or call 336-846-7101.