Kalispell, Mont. — A retired surgeon in the Flathead is continuing his sister’s legacy by providing financial support to breast cancer patients.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the breast cancer incidence rate in Montana is 136.3 per 100,000 people. This is 128.9 times higher than the national average.
In 2022, approximately 2.3 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 670,000 will die.
Retired surgeon Jim Bonnett says cancer hit close to home for him.
“I have a sister who is three years older than me and was recently diagnosed with breast cancer,” Bonnet said.
Bonnett was a surgeon at Logan Health for many years. He established the Carol Fund in honor of his sister.
“During her health care journey, she lived in a rural area and didn’t have all the tools she needed to provide the care she needed,” Bonnett said.
Bonnet decided to create a comprehensive breast center in the Flathead Valley after seeing her sister have to travel two hours each way to get treatment.
“We have now established an endowment fund that is intended to continue all activities related to the care of breast patients,” Bonnett said.
Bonet donated $1 million to the Logan Health Foundation as a gift to the Carroll Foundation.
“This funding will be used to empower our physicians and care teams here and ensure they have the latest tools and technology to ensure we can treat our patients,” said Michael Barth, Interim President of the Logan Health Foundation. “It will be destroyed,” he said.
Mr. Bonnett had one important goal with this endowment. That is to establish a committee for a breast center.
“We have a committee made up of personnel within the breast center,” Barth said. “But also representative of the patient population: breast cancer survivors, women who may be receiving treatment for breast cancer in the near term.”
Now that the donation is in place, Bonnet and Barth can’t wait to see what they can accomplish in Carol’s name.
“I’m glad I learned all about this, mainly from my sister. It’s great to be able to do this now,” Bonnett said.
“Dr. Bonnet, we’re so glad you trust us,” Barth said.
If you would like to donate to the Carroll Fund or learn more about the Logan Health Breast Center, click here.
