- November 28, 2024
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When Malka Altman was going through chemotherapy, she often told her family and friends about the many obstacles she saw other cancer patients facing and how she wanted to help them. After she died in 2014, her longtime friend, Angela Heaster, decided she was going to put Altman's desire to serve in action with Light the Way.
The idea went into motion after a conversation Heaster had with Malka Altman's son, Josh Altman, and cancer survivor, Sheryl Selby, who also went
through chemotherapy with Malka Altman.
"They were concerned about the other patients they were having chemo with," Heaster said. "Even with good insurance and support it's still a
struggle."
Though Angela Heaster and her husband, Lewis Heaster, having been serving local charities for over 15 years through the Heaster Family Foundation, the couple wanted to do something to bring local cancer patients together with local people who wanted to help. The couple created a committee filled with doctors, social workers, therapists, nurses, cancer survivors and other people who know and understand what cancer patients really need. Heaster's team has told her that the top three needs are healthy meals, transportation and help with housekeeping.
"Some patients will go for a full day of chemo and then have to wait two hours for the Votran," she said. Light the Way will take care of those needs by doing things like paying for an Uber ride or connecting the patient with a driving service willing to pick them up for free.
The Heasters will kick off Light the Way with a community event May 19 at Gaslamp Shoppes, where Angela Heaster owns Gaslamp Gift Galleries. A percentage of all sales from the shops and vendors will go to creating a Light the Way fund so the Heaster Family Foundation can get started on connecting patients with the right services and people.
"After this comes the fun part," Lewis Heaster smiled.
Angela Heaster said one of the most amazing parts of creating Light the Way was the support she's received from her community.
"Everyone has been impacted by cancer," she said. "So people have been jumping on board with this in honor of their father, or their sister. It's been the most amazing thing."
The extremely long list of businesses and organizations participating in Light the Way:
Bon Gourmet, Dollface Hair Refinery, Gaslamp Gift Gallery, Kale Cafe, Marguerite's Florist, Luisa Alvarez Photography, Cakery Creation, Frappes Italian Grille, LuLu's Oceanside Grill, Halifax Health, Paper Dance, Lotus Yoga & Fitness, Ormond Brewery, YPGO, MyAdornments, Whim Wham Art Studio, Masterpiece Mixers Ormond Bch, Elite Therapeutics, local artist Sandy Fraser, Stealth Swimwear, Bloom Branding, Nature's Patina, Halifax Health, local artist Kristin Heron, local artist Sarah Heron of Vagabond & Myth, Ormond Memorial Art Museum, NYR Organic Independent Consultant, Nerium International, Orgami Owl, Mirabella Salon, Trades of Hope, Elements of Design, Preppy Beach Boutique, Backdrop Booth, Main Street Ormond Beach, Gold's Gym Ormond Bch, Fun Coast Bartending, Temple Beth-El School, The Children's Workshop, Florida Hospital, Seabreeze UCC Cancer Hope and Healing Program, Equilibrium Wellness, American Cancer Society and The Pocket Jeweler.
