July 2026

LINK TO HOPE NEWSLETTER

A message from the Executive Director - Melissa Karrer

Hi Friends,

Summer is in full swing but our mission to support patients never takes a break. Our team is working hard to support and empower caregivers and patients by providing vital resources to those navigating a cancer diagnosis and looking ahead to exciting upcoming events. Thank you for being an important part of our mission. Together we are making a difference!

We are looking for players and sponsors for our 2026 Links to Hope charity golf scramble coming up in September (details in flyer below). We're excited to switch things up this year and will be hosting our event at the University Club playing the Arthur Hills designed Big Blue Course.

Consider a sponsorship opportunity which helps us keep the event costs down and helps us maximize our funding for the greatest impact for our mission.

We're pausing our Gilda's Club events for the summer months of July & August and will look forward to ramping up again in September! Stay tuned for some really fun Fall activities to come.

Your continued support helps us ensure no Kentuckian faces a cancer diagnosis alone. Consider a monthly gift and help us reach more individuals in need of screenings, transportation assistance through our gas card program, and patient support services like wigs, post-mastectomy items, & more. Every donation makes a difference and helps us sustain our programs. Click here to donate today!

"Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June through August." -Jenny Han

Cheers,

Melissa

Save the Date!

Please consider supporting our mission financially so that we can continue mailing fuel cards to cancer patients with transportation barriers and providing free wigs and post mastectomy garments to women in need and to make the greatest impact in our communities throughout the Commonwealth. All of our donations stay local to help Kentuckians in need.

Your involvement can make a significant difference!

Every donation counts...

Click here to donate today

When you purchase gift cards for any occasion, through the link below, a portion of the proceeds benefit KY CancerLink.

Click here to shop over 200 different gift card options available

through RaiseRight.

WKYT - Link to Hope

Each month on WKYT, a Link to Hope story is featured with Amber Philpott.

This month's segment highlights Cancer Survivor month, held every June, and the importance of celebrating hope, healing, and connection through community.

Click here to view segments!

THANK YOU to WKYT for your partnership!

Out & About

Melanie attended UK Markey Cancer Center's Cancer Survivor Celebration on June 10th. It was a joyous day to honor survivors and celebrate life!

Thanks to our "Summer Rocks" participants who showed up for our June Gilda's Club Kentuckiana collaborative event to paint rocks to scatter throughout our communities and share messages of hope.

Melissa attended a lung cancer screening event on Friday, June 26th, at Mercy Health in Paducah, representing the Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program to provide screenings for uninsured Kentuckians. Our Kentucky Cancer Program partners were in attendance as well.

Melanie attended Gilda's Club Kentuckiana's Community is Stronger than Cancer Celebration on June 27th in Louisville. This event celebrates the strength of community along with the life and legacy of founder, Gilda Radnor.

Grateful Patient

Ways to GIVE BACK!

Did you know we have an Amazon wish list?

One of our greatest needs is $25 Visa gift cards we use to send to cancer patients to help them travel to and from treatment appointments.

Amazon gift cards, in any amount, help us purchase nutritional supplements, durable medical equipment, and other items to help patients who are experiencing a cancer diagnosis.

Click here to shop our Amazon wish list

Click here to register your Kroger rewards card!

Delicious Ideas

Slow Cooker Pulled

BBQ Chicken

This slow cooker creation is a delicious and easy way to prepare pulled sandwiches for a gathering or simply any day of the week.

The slow cooking process helps the barbecue sauce really infuse a rich flavor in the chicken.

Click here for recipe

Caprese Pasta Salad

If you're a fan of caprese salads, you're going to love this pasta salad version. Summertime is perfect for caprese dishes because you can take advantage of the fresh herbs and tomatoes available. Buon appetito!

Click here for recipe

Berry Cheesecake Trifle

This trifle recipe is so easy and delicious and there's no baking involved. It's the perfect desert to serve at a fourth of July celebration and it's pretty too. It involves fruit so the calories don't count. ;-)

Click here for recipe

Link to Hope Podcast

Kentuckians need hope today. Link 2 Hope is a monthly podcast featuring community partners discussing ways to remove barriers for Kentuckians in need of screening, diagnosis and treatment for cancer.

New episodes available! Click HERE.

Is there a topic that you would like to hear about? Contact Melanie Hunter at melanieh@kycancerlink.org to share your ideas!

Thank you to our partner, RunSwitch PR!

Available on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts. Subscribe to be informed when new episodes are added!

Share your ideas and resources! Do you know of something that might be useful to the cancer community? Let us know, and we may share it in future publications.

Email Melanie Hunter at melanieh@kycancerlink.org

KENTUCKY CANCERLINK

860 Corporate Dr., Suite 103

Lexington, KY 40503

Phone: 859-309-1700

Toll-Free: 877-597-4655

Fax: 859-368-8418