{"id":157315,"date":"2026-02-09T19:34:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T19:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/157315\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T19:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T19:34:48","slug":"how-can-i-support-md-anderson-aside-from-donating-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/157315\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I support MD Anderson, aside from donating money?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re eager to give back<\/a> to MD Anderson \u2014 whether because the treatment<\/a> you received here extended your life<\/a> or those of the people you love<\/a> \u2014 you\u2019re not alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But donating money<\/a> is just one way to support MD Anderson. There are plenty of other ways you can help advance our mission to end cancer.<\/p>\n

Here are six more ways to support MD Anderson that you might not have considered.<\/p>\n

Donate blood or platelets<\/p>\n

Our patients rely on people just like you to supply the blood they need during cancer treatment. Your donation could be used to improve cell counts due to chemotherapy and radiation<\/a>, replace blood lost during surgery<\/a>, or replenish the cells that the body can\u2019t make itself<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the only way to make sure your blood donation will benefit MD Anderson patients is by donating at one of MD Anderson Blood Bank\u2019s<\/a> many Houston area locations<\/a> or community blood drives<\/a>. Whole blood can be donated as frequently as every eight weeks \u2014 or about six times a year. Platelets can be donated as often as every seven days.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels great to know that I might be helping one of our patients while they\u2019re undergoing cancer treatment, especially during severe blood shortages,\u201d says Maria Gabrido, an assistant nurse manager who donates here regularly. \u201cNot everyone is eligible to donate<\/a> blood, so I feel very blessed.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Make an appointment to donate today<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wear MD Anderson merchandise<\/p>\n

What could be easier than throwing on a T-shirt or zipping up a hoodie?\u00a0If you sport some of our\u00a0branded merchandise<\/a>, you could be a walking\u00a0billboard\u00a0for MD Anderson just by getting dressed\u00a0in the morning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Senior occupational therapist Sydney Barrera loves her job here so much that she owns about 10 different branded items, including a pair of leggings, two T-shirts,\u00a0a hat<\/a>\u00a0and a couple of jackets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to represent MD Anderson,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0says. \u201cWhen I wear our merchandise\u00a0out\u00a0in public, people often share stories about their positive experiences here. Our brand is highly recognizable and known for its excellence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Clothing options<\/a>\u00a0range from sweatshirts and puffy jackets for\u00a0chilly\u00a0days to scarves and silk neckties for business meetings.\u00a0You can also buy\u00a0UPF-rated sun protective items<\/a>, such as hats and leggings.\u00a0But if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0all set for clothing, totes, backpacks,\u00a0mugs\u00a0and umbrellas\u00a0are also available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shop online<\/a>\u00a0or find\u00a0MD Anderson-branded\u00a0gear in\u00a0our\u00a0gift shops<\/a>\u00a0on MD Anderson’s\u00a0Texas Medical Center Campus<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Volunteer at MD Anderson<\/p>\n

Recall, for a moment,\u00a0the early days\u00a0after\u00a0your own or a loved one\u2019s\u00a0cancer diagnosis<\/a>,\u00a0when a friendly smile or a helping hand would have been extremely welcome while navigating an unfamiliar hospital system. Then, consider providing both of those things to others by becoming an\u00a0on-site volunteer<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

MD Anderson has more than\u00a0300\u00a0on-site\u00a0volunteers<\/a>\u00a0spread across our campuses.\u00a0Some offer blankets, coffee and conversation at Cancer Connection<\/a>,\u00a0a convenient rest stop for patients and caregivers between appointments. Others provide hope and comfort to patients in their hospital rooms. Still others provide a friendly face to people who need help, and either give them directions or accompany them to their destinations.<\/p>\n

Assisting campus visitors is the underlying goal of this program, but volunteers often find that they get more out of the experience than they give.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel a lot lighter after helping people,\u201d says Irabor Oshotse, an aspiring medical student who\u2019s volunteering at MD Anderson during his gap year. \u201cSo, it not only helps them; it helps me, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 40 different roles are available for volunteers to choose from. But you can also volunteer through myCancerConnection<\/a>, MD Anderson\u2019s one-on-one support community for patients, caregivers and survivors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Attend a volunteer preview orientation<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0complete a myCancerConnection application<\/a>\u00a0to learn more.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Apply to become a Patient and Family Advisor Program member<\/p>\n

What could be\u00a0more rewarding\u00a0than\u00a0helping\u00a0a\u00a0hospital\u00a0improve the experience\u00a0it\u00a0provides\u00a0for\u00a0patients?\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s\u00a0precisely\u00a0what\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0do\u00a0as\u00a0a member of\u00a0our\u00a0Patient and Family Advisor Program<\/a>\u00a0(PFAP).\u00a0This group of former patients and caregivers serves on committees at MD Anderson, providing candid feedback and an insider\u2019s perspective that\u2019s priceless to our leaders. Its goal? To make treatment here both safer and more pleasant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love everything about MD Anderson, but there are always opportunities to improve,\u201d notes\u00a0Lisa Nicks<\/a>,\u00a0a\u00a0PFAP member whose father received treatment here for B-cell lymphoma<\/a>. \u201cOne of the things we did was expand the hours during which patients could take a shuttle between the Main Building and the Mays Clinic. The best part of being on a committee was realizing we could make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Email the Patient Experience team<\/a>\u00a0for more information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fundraise for MD Anderson<\/p>\n

Even if you can\u2019t afford to make a donation\u00a0yourself, your friends and family might be able to.\u00a0So, ask them!\u00a0Here are\u00a0just\u00a0two\u00a0of the many\u00a0ways\u00a0to\u00a0do this.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join MD Anderson\u2019s Boot Walk to End Cancer<\/p>\n

Sign up for\u00a0MD Anderson Boot Walk to End Cancer\u00ae<\/a>\u00a0and help us give cancer the boot. This annual event raises money each fall to support patient programs,\u00a0research<\/a>,\u00a0prevention<\/a>\u00a0and education\u00a0initiatives\u00a0here at MD Anderson.\u00a0Teams\u00a0that\u00a0raise $25,000 or\u00a0more\u00a0and individuals who raise $10,000 or more can specify exactly where their funds will go.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anyone\u2019s going to\u00a0crack the code, it\u2019s going to be MD Anderson,\u201d says\u00a0Kathleen Perley<\/a>, who participates in the Boot Walk in honor of her late mother, Eileen Campbell. \u201cThat’s why funding and fundraising are so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn about the Boot Walk.<\/a><\/p>\n

Set up a DIY fundraiser<\/p>\n

The Boot Walk only comes around once a year. But you can raise money for MD Anderson any time, by putting together a do-it-yourself (DIY) fundraiser.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s a bake sale on your birthday, a casual golf tournament with buddies, or a memorial page for someone you\u2019ve loved and lost, every dollar you raise will go to MD Anderson programs.<\/p>\n

Learn more about\u00a0DIY fundraisers.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Spread the word about MD Anderson<\/p>\n

Want a simple, impactful way you can support our mission to end cancer right now? Help spread the word about MD Anderson.<\/p>\n

Share MD Anderson stories and information online<\/p>\n

Share information and stories from MD Anderson with your friends, family and online connections. Follow MD Anderson’s official social media accounts, and share stories, videos and updates with your friends and followers. Or share articles you read here on our Cancerwise blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You also can\u00a0subscribe to our Cancerwise podcast<\/a>\u00a0and share it with friends and family. And be sure to\u00a0subscribe to our email newsletters<\/a> and forward interesting stories and updates to friends and family. Encourage them to subscribe, too, so they don’t miss any updates.<\/p>\n

Share your MD Anderson story<\/p>\n

Learning how you or a loved one overcame cancer here might be just the thing someone else needs to reclaim hope \u2014 and, that is priceless. So use your voice to tell others about your MD Anderson story. You can share your story online with us<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cRonnie was a retired police officer, and I\u2019m a retired teacher,\u201d says\u00a0Brenda Speidel<\/a>, whose late husband came here for stage IV\u00a0bladder cancer treatment<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cWe weren\u2019t wealthy people. So, we couldn\u2019t thank MD Anderson in the way we wanted to. But MD Anderson gave us 10 extra years together. They gave us that. That\u2019s why I\u2019m sharing my story. And, it\u2019s why I\u2019ll promote MD Anderson until my dying day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Remember, every action you take and every gift you make, no matter how small, helps advance our mission to end cancer.\u00a0Learn how\u00a0you can help\u00a0at OnlyPossibleHere.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re eager to give back to MD Anderson \u2014 whether because the treatment you received here extended…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":157316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[64752,64753,1145,1147,39401,1142,56,58,57,1148,9244,2822,23501],"class_list":{"0":"post-157315","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-blood-donation","9":"tag-boot-walk-to-end-cancer","10":"tag-caregivers","11":"tag-clinical-trials","12":"tag-donors","13":"tag-family-friends","14":"tag-houston","15":"tag-houston-headlines","16":"tag-houston-news","17":"tag-patients","18":"tag-philanthropy","19":"tag-survivors","20":"tag-volunteers"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/157316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}