Cheerful Heart helps out cancer patients

Cheerful Heart, a nonprofit organization launched in 2002, serves Lake County cancer patients who are currently in treatment in a variety of ways.

Cheerful Touch is a personal care program offered by Cheerful Heart to cancer patients currently in treatment. Local cosmetologists and massage therapists offer massages, skin, nail and hair care at no charge to cancer patients. Call Cheerful Heart with questions or to schedule an appointment at 406-883-3070. Patients should consult with their doctors before using these services.

The organization also provides volunteers for the oncology clinic at St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. Volunteers serve soup on Tuesdays at the Polson clinic.

St. Luke Hospital in Ronan schedules appointments at their infusion center throughout the week. Both clinics carry inventories of head coverings, Knitted Knockers (breast prosthesis) and ComfyChemo shirts, available for no charge to patients.

Cheerful Heart services also include transportation to treatment or medical appointments locally and in Missoula and Kalispell, running errands, preparing meals, walking dogs, or other tasks as requested.

A cancer support group meets from noon to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the St. Joseph Medical Center Chapel, located inside the front entrance to the hospital. The group is for anyone affected by cancer and is led by Pastor Matthew Connally of the Ronan/Polson Nazarene Church.

For more information, call 406-883-3070, check out the Cheerful Heart website at

www.cheerfulheart.org or email cheartinc@gmail.com. The mailing address for the organization is Cheerful Heart, P.O. Box 688, Polson, MT 59860.