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JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The goal has always been to bring care closer to home with the newly unveiled Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Cancer Center.

On Thursday, that goal was reached.

Many of those who either made the Cancer Center possible or will be using it in the future were on hand to celebrate the historic day Thursday, June 13th. JRMC CEO Mike Delfs says with the week leading up to the opening, they’ve heard the same message that brings them back to the key reason for the center; miles matter.

Delfs says it’s clearly what the community wants. He says people want to travel for shopping or vacations, but not for healthcare.

A surprise came about when it was announced that the Helmsley Charitable Trust would be donating $500,000 to the JRMC for cancer care.

Delfs says they had been in talks with the Helmsley Charitable Trust for some time.

The $1.5 million capital cost was fully funded by the community.

In Stutsman County, cancer is the leading cause of death for individuals ages 45-84, according to the North Dakota Department of Health. More than 350 people in JRMC’s nine-county region are diagnosed with cancer each year. Those same people travel more than 200 miles round trip for chemotherapy infusions and other cancer treatments.

They won’t have to anymore with the new center. The first patient is expected on Monday, June 17th.

JRMC Cancer Center Ribbon Cutting