As Sarah Bush Lincoln prepares to expand the Regional Cancer Center, the SBL Health Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2025 Holiday Festival will support a new Capital Campaign called "Expanding Hope." This follows the "Building Hope" campaign conducted over a decade ago to raise funds for construction of the Regional Cancer Center.
The 21,500 square foot cancer center was built to accomodate 17 oncology infusion chairs, with plenty of waiting room space. But over the years, patient volume has soared. Just since 2020, the number of patient visits has nearly doubled, in part due to an aging population, but there's also a national trend in younger people being diagnosed with colorectal, breast, testicular and thyroid cancers and melanoma.
SBL Health Foundation director Amy Card emphasized that the campaign is about far more than construction. "When someone gives to Expanding Hope, they are directly touching the lives of friends, neighbors and family members who are fighting their journey," she said. "It's a way for all of us to remind our patients they are never alone in their journey."
"In 2020, we had about 25,000 visits annually to the Cancer Center," explained Jessi Bergfeld, Administrative Director of Practice Management. "This year, we are on track for nearly 47,000 visits. While we wish there wasn't such a great need for cancer services, we are honored that more people are choosing Sarah Bush Lincoln for the care they trust. That growth means we now need more space, more infusion bays and a larger waiting room to serve our patients comfortably."
The 2025 Holiday Festival kicks off at 8 am on Thursday, November 13 when the online auction opens. This year’s Auction features more than 100 holiday items designed by SBL employees, area residents and businesses. The auction closes at 5 pm on Monday, November 17.
Also on November 13, Friends Night Out will be held from 5 to 7 pm in the SBL Lumpkin Education Center, Entrance C on the north side of campus. For $10, people can enjoy a signature drink and get an exclusive preview of everything the Festival has to offer. The SBL Gift Shop’s Pop-Up Holiday Boutique will also be open for shopping, and Holiday Festival T-shirts will be available to order. Doors open again Friday from noon-7 pm with Santa arriving at 3 pm.
Even if you cannot attend the event you can still support the Expanding Hope campaign by purchasing Raffle tickets for a chance to win a week-long trip to Sheraton Vistana Resort, Orlando FL, March 29 – April 5, plus $1,500. Thank you to Mike & Jayne Genta for their generous donation.
Rounding out the weekend is the Gala and Live Auction on November 15th, featuring Meteorologist Jacob Dickey as this year’s Emcee and 30 elite Live Auction items. Tickets for the Gala and Live Auction are sold out, but one lucky winner will have the opportunity to take home one of those elite items via a raffle. For just $100, you can purchase a raffle ticket and if your name is drawn at 7 pm, during the Gala, you’ll get to choose one of the Live Auction items which will be removed from the Auction block. You need not be present to win.
To purchase Friends’ Night Out tickets, order T-shirts, purchase Live Auction or Trip Raffle tickets, to donate, or to get more information, visit sarahbush.org/holidayfestival, or call the SBL Health Foundation at 217-258-2511. The online auction can also be accessed for browsing at this webpage beginning Monday, November 11.