Our Story – Cancer Support Community Montana

Cancer Support Community is a national non-profit organization that started in 1982, as a way to bring physician-supported psychosocial support to people affected by cancer – and do so free of charge. CSC is also unique in that it began under the cloak of research to ensure that the support being provided actually improves quality of life to this vulnerable population. Cancer Support Community Montana began in 2004 and opened a center in Bozeman. Our Missoula Chapter opened it’s doors in early 2022 and is quickly building a strong program calendar and community presence.

Being part of a national and statewide organization allows us to share resources and reduce expenses while benefiting from national research and experience. Missoula will provide flexible programming based on the current needs of our unique community and will be financially supported locally. All donations raised in Missoula will benefit our Missoula Chapter.

We enjoy relationships with both of our local hospitals as well as other Missoula organizations and look forward to collaborating together to provide the best possible comprehensive cancer support for patients and their families.

In 2016, Ray Curtis of Missoula, lost his wife to cancer and began looking for support services for his daughter. This search led him to CSCMT where he experienced first-hand how our services help patients and families improve their health both during and after treatment. In 2018, he invited a group of Missoula contacts and oncology professionals to begin imagining a center in Missoula. His passion for the project was contagious and CSC’s mission resonated on a deep level as everyone present agreed about the urgent need in Missoula for complete wrap-around services.

This conversation led him to Hailey Kern, a young leukemia survivor, who was on the Board at Living Art of Montana at the time and looking for ways to make it easier for patients and survivors to connect with vital services in Missoula. Ray and Hailey worked together with CSCMT CEO Becky Franks to develop a business plan and build an initial Development Board.

In 2021, they hired Odette Grassi as Executive Director and the search began for a space to launch programs. In early 2022, the Missoula Chapter opened in it’s current location, at 2625 Briggs Street, and a full Missoula Chapter Board was established. Further staff has been added and our calendar grew to over 50 programs available per month, plus many other activities.