‘Ordinary people can do extraordinary things’

Charity nears $1 million fundraising goal

ANDOVER >> 2022 was a big year for Voices of Hope.

The nonprofit musical group, which raises money for local cancer research, performed without masks for the first time in two years. They moved to the Ballard Vale United Church in Andover after 10 years in Lawrence. And now they’re one step closer to reaching their $1 million milestone.

At the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday, founder and President Greg Chastain announced they raised $88,000 for the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at Mass General Cancer Center. That brings the total fundraising up to $979,000, and $844,000 specifically to the Termeer Center.

Nurse Director Casandra Mcintyre and Director Dr. Dejan Juric also presented updates on the center at the meeting.

After two years of COVID — where Voices of Hope was unable to perform in front of their typical live audiences — Chastain said it was a blessing to return and present the check to the center.

“It was kind of a weird year last year because it was our first year back,” Chastain said. “It was truly amazing that we were able to do that. I didn’t think, when we were doing the numbers, it was going to be that, but it was.”

In 2020 and 2021, Chastain said the nonprofit still managed to raise about $110,000 by getting “creative” with online live shows and filming performances. The unexpected halt put VOH back two years in its fundraising efforts, but to be so close to their goal is “amazing,” Chastain said.

“It’s definitely nothing I had envisioned when we started this, at all… it’s a little overwhelming, I would say,” he said, “because a lot of people have put a lot of work in and stayed with us over the years.”

About 60 members attended the meeting, but Chastain said they’ve had nearly 300 people volunteer with them since he started the group in 2009.

The Termeer Center is a 22-chair outpatient unit that runs clinical, phase 1 trials for Mass General Cancer Center, Mcintyre said. Since its founding 11 years ago, the center has brought 22 drugs to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, which Mcintyre said is impressive, given that it

usually takes 10 years to get

there.

With the support from Voices of Hope, Mcintyre said the center has been able to offer transportation to patients up to 30 miles away, making it easier for them to get treatments. Mcintyre called the system “a godsend.”

Voices of Hope also funds their “discretionary funds,” which go toward new research, setting up a nursing research scholarship

COURTESY OF VOICES OF HOPE From left, Voices of Hope Treasurer Jean Chastain, VOH founder and President Greg Chastain, Termeer Center Nurse Director Casandra Mcintyre, Termeer Center Director Dr. Dejan Juric, VOH Vice President Ed Siegal and VOH Artistic Director Dana Siegal pose with a check for $88,000, which VOH raised to donate to the center in 2022. The group, which raises money for cancer research, is now $21,000away from their goal of $1million.

COURTESY VOICES OF HOPE Voices of Hope members smile for a photo at the organization’s annual meeting Feb. 11, 2023. The group, which raises money for cancer research, is now $21,000 away from their goal of $1 million.