KILLEEN, TX — Chances are, you know a cancer survivor.
Pink Warrior Angels of Texas helps provide support for those diagnosed with cancer and is just one of many non-profit organizations seeing a greater need for assistance than ever before.
That comes as funding has slumped amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though a Killeen nail spa is feeling the impact themselves, they have found their own way to give back to the organization.
When Mandy Hunt was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in October, the preschool teacher was so sick she had to stop working.
"I had to go to from my full paycheck to a portion of my paycheck," said Hunt.
After a double mastectomy, she started chemotherapy in December. She was scheduled to have reconstructive surgery in April but the suspension of elective surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to her plans.
"I was devastated," said Hunt. "I was so sad because it was something I was really looking forward to getting over with."
When the single mother of two needed moral support and financial assistance, breast cancer survivor Julie Moser with Pink Warrior Angels of Texas was there to give her a helping hand.
"And with our Warrior Program, that gives opportunity to help pay rent, mortgage, car payments, you know things like that that we forget that is not paid for by health insurance, even if you have health insurance to go through cancer treatments," said Moser.
Moser says, since the pandemic started, her organization has received more requests for assistance from cancer survivors than ever before.
"Numbers have quadrupled. I mean even already its July 4, we've already had six applications come in since the beginning of the month," said Moser.
Even though business is down due to the recent spike in COVID-19 numbers, the team at Aeon Nail Spahas still found a way to give back to this very cause. Customers who book “For the Cure” manicures or pedicures will be supporting the Warrior Program.
"Pedicure, $5 goes to the foundation. The manicures, both the dipping and the geL, they will take and get $3," said Marc Coley, general manager, Aeon Nail Spa. "Have a member that also has two surviving sisters that are both nine and 11 year survivors and we definitely wanted to find a cause that supports, supports that."
Customer Tenika Robinson says choosing the "Pedi for the Cure" was an easy decision to make.
"Being an RN that works in this area and receiving a service that I do all the time anyway, I think it's an awesome opportunity to support a local foundation as well as our local survivors by doing something I do all the time anyway," said Robinson.
Moser says a simple $5 donation can help provide a meal for a cancer survivor in need of financial assistance.
