Fighting Cancer with the Bethesda Foundation

The fight against cancer is a harrowing experience for both the individual and their family, and many times it feels like there is little respite to be had. It is in these moments that individuals who work to touch the lives of cancer patients and their families are needed most.  

Cincinnati has no shortage of charitable individuals who give of themselves selflessly on a regular basis. Mary Jo Cropper was one of those people. Working with cancer survivors while fighting the disease herself, she was the embodiment of what Mary Jo’s Angels seeks to recognize today.  

Mary Jo’s Angels, an awards ceremony and fundraising event hosted by Bethesda Foundation, strives to recognize and honor those who have, through care or direct service, worked to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors. The event takes place November 12 at the Manor House in Mason.  

Spence Cropper, Mary Jo’s son, is a committee member for the event and works to continue recognizing those who were like his mother. "We choose recipients of this award through nominations. Honorees are community volunteers who exemplify grace and compassion to those surviving cancer."  

When Mary Jo passed away three years ago, the committee at Bethesda Foundation founded Mary Jo’s Angels to pay tribute. The event and award champions the values Mary Jo held, while recognizing those working to better the lives of others.  

"We’re working to honor the unsung heroes," says Mary Fischer, director of development for Bethesda Foundation and a committee member for Mary Jo’s Angels. "We want to highlight ordinary people who volunteer and give of themselves without seeking recognition for their actions."  

Each year, the event highlights about five individuals. It also functions as a fundraising event for the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care. Last year’s event raised more than $345,000 to benefit clinical research. "The funds from Mary Jo’s Angels are put into a clinical research fund, and the committee evaluates grant requests for further projects," says Dr. Susan Weinberg, co-medical director of the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care and a committee member of Mary Jo’s Angels. "These dollars have funded very important projects."  

One project is working to change and save lives in a big way. Mary Jo’s Angels has allowed the center to provide extra funding to help individuals who might have a genetic predisposition to cancer get testing.  

"Genetic testing is extremely expensive," says Dr. Weinberg. "Helping individuals get tested also helps us to study the cancer gene as well as treat that person early. Not everyone has the same risk for developing cancer, and it’s important to find those who have the highest risk."  

The fund also provides opportunities for clinical trials, new technology and better patient care for patients coming to the Mary Jo Cropper Family Center for Breast Care. "It’s very important to us that people not be denied because of money," says Dr. Weinberg.  

In the end, Mary Jo’s Angels not only honors those who selflessly volunteer time and effort for the sake of cancer survivors, but it also raises money to help those struggling with the disease. In one afternoon, people come together to recognize those walking in Mary Jo’s footsteps, while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer aid.  

"What’s inspiring about this event is that the honorees are doing this work out of kindness," says Fischer. She adds that Bethesda Foundation’s goal for the event in future years will be to increase both funding and impact. "We want to do our part to move forward in the mission of curing the disease and to honor those in communities who work towards helping those with cancer."