Courtesy Photo Hunters Harvest for Charity (HHC) of Alpena recently donated $1,000 to the Susan’s Wish Fund held at MyMichigan Health Foundation. All funds donated to Susan’s Wish go directly to local cancer patients and their families to help with expenses for travel, prescription costs and other necessary care items related to treatment. Pictured, from left to right, are Jennifer Schuch, social worker, Alpena Cancer Center; Mark Boyk, president, Hunters Harvest For Charity; and Ann Diamond, director, MyMichigan Health Foundation.

ALPENA — Hunters Harvest for Charity (HHC) of Alpena recently donated $1,000 to the Susan’s Wish Fund held at MyMichigan Health Foundation. All funds donated to Susan’s Wish go directly to local cancer patients and their families to help with expenses for travel, prescription costs and other necessary care items related to treatment.

“Gifts from HHC go directly back into the community,” said Ann Diamond, development director, MyMichigan Health Foundation. “Susan’s Wish is a great match for their mission, as 100% of its proceeds go to local cancer patients and their families. HHC’s support reflects the community’s generosity and commitment to assisting others. For all of this, we are truly honored to have received this gift. On behalf of MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena and our cancer patients, we thank HHC and all those who support this wonderful organization.”

Next year, the Alpena chapter of HHC will celebrate their 45th anniversary. John Boyk, better known as Col. John, brought HHC to Alpena in 1983. A prolific fundraiser, Col. John worked tirelessly to build the organization to what it is today, a powerhouse of goodwill and charity focused on local impact. When Col. John passed in 2007, his brother, Mark Boyk, took over as president, and he honors his brother by continuing his legacy of philanthropy while ensuring the organization will be successful for years to come.

The signature event for the HHC is its annual stag dinner, held on the last Friday of January. Hosted at the APlex, the well-loved event caters to men, specifically hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. The dinner regularly sells out its seating of up to 550 people. In doing so, HHC raises tens of thousands of dollars in one night. All proceeds from the dinner go directly back into the community through various donations to different local nonprofit organizations, as well as individuals or families who are experiencing financial distress.

“The goals of HHC and Susan’s Wish are well aligned,” Diamond said. “Both are centered around making a local impact and giving directly to individuals in need while also strengthen the ties of our community. It’s deeply gratifying knowing this partnership advances our mutual goals of community betterment.”

HHC chose to support Susan’s Wish after seeing how well its goals aligned with their own. Susan’s Wish was set up by Penny Barton in memory of her daughter, Susan Yachcik, who passed of cancer in 2012. Due to her family’s personal experience with the disease, Barton wanted all donations to go straight to cancer patients and families who needed additional financial support.

Jennifer Schuch, social worker, Alpena Cancer Center, expressed her gratitude for this gift.

“My job is to make sure our cancer patients and their families have the support they need,” Schuch said. “We have a lot of resources that can help, Susan’s Wish being one of them. This fund is specially set up to fill the gaps of other funding and ensure our patients’ needs are met. I’m so grateful to Hunters Harvest for their generosity and their decision to give to Susan’s Wish.”

For more information about donations to Susan’s Wish or supporting cancer care at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, contact Diamond via email at ann.diamond@mymichigan.org or by calling 989-356-7738.