Courtesy Photo Chad Esch, center, of Bannan Funeral Home, presents a $1,500 donation to Shelly Gibbs, fundraising coordinator, and Melissa Burns, executive director, of Friends Together.

ALPENA — Chad Esch, of Bannan Funeral Home, presented a $1,500 donation to Shelly Gibbs, fundraising coordinator, and Melissa Burns, executive director, of Friends Together. This generous donation will help cancer patients in six counties.

“Sometimes it’s just the extra gas that gets a patient to and from their critical care, sometimes it’s an overnight stay that is paid for so that patients can arrive safely to their out-of-town appointments, sometimes it’s having a local support group to join that make a huge difference to someone who is facing a cancer diagnosis,” Gibbs said. “All these things are provided free of charge and are possible because of the support we receive.”

Friends Together cancer support can be reached by calling 989-356-3231. The support center provides services to Alpena, Alcona, Presque Isle, Montmorency, Oscoda and Iosco counties.