Regional cancer support center opens Bowie branch By MATT ARMES Staff Writer
Living your days to the fullest means a little more when those days are numbered.
Howard Dunkley saw this truth unfold in his own life after losing a close friend, Bruce Kelly, to cancer seven years ago.
After watching Kelly fight and eventually succumb lung cancer in 2001 after a year-long battle, Dunkley was inspired to create a place where people could receive help dealing with the everyday battles presented by the disease.
Dunkley's efforts led to the creation of the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Support Center, which is celebrating its third anniversary as a unique resource center for cancer survivors in Anne Arundel County.
Now the nonprofit organization is creating a similar resource group in Bowie to help embattled cancer victims just like Kelly, who died at the age of 52.
"When he first got diagnosed, there were no resources for him to go and find out more about the type of cancer he had," Dunkley said. "The time he had with his doctor was limited, and the information just wasn't there. I thought 'There's got to be a better way to find more information and support for the types of cancer that people are going through.' "
Beginning April 12, Dunkley said that people in the Bowie area would have the chance to get help dealing with cancer by attending classes focused on proper nutrition and exercise. The classes will be held at the Cornerstone Assembly of God Church.
Dunkley, CEO of the organization, also said that a similar group already meets at a church in the organization's main branch in Davidsonville and has experienced remarkable interest.
"There's about 30 people in that group," he explained. "Every month we have a potluck dinner and local doctors come in and speak on the different types of cancer. It's a place where there's no rush and you can ask more one-on-one questions," he added. "When you bring people together like that, they get excited."
Dunkley said that he had originally met Kelly and his wife while on a mission trip to Ecuador in 1999. The three soon formed a close friendship while Kelly served as a police officer in Prince George's County and later as an accountant.
Profoundly impacted by the death of his friend, Dunkley formulated the idea of a support center to help others dealing with the same obstacles presented by cancer.
"I sent out about 50 letters inviting people in Bowie that had cancer, or had family members with cancer, to get their thoughts on having a resource center for people to get support," he said. "The response was overwhelming, and everyone was open to having this in Bowie."
Dunkley received a degree in social work from Bowie State University in 2002. He obtained a master's degree from Salisbury University in 2005, and began coordinating fund raisers to launch the organization that year.
The company's board is composed of 10 people from Annapolis and Bowie who have gone through or been close to people who have gone through cancer. Kelly's wife serves as a staff secretary.
The support center, which is completely community funded, will celebrate its new Bowie home with a benefit concert Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cornerstone Assembly of God featuring the Sounds of Liberty, a student-led vocal group from Liberty University. The concert is free, but a free will offering will be taken.
"I had heard them perform at church in Annapolis, and they were wonderful," Dunkley said. "I just contacted them to see if they'd do a concert for us, and they were really excited about the cause."
The organization has developed into a thriving source of support for many people Its wide array of services includes classes and support groups, all free of charge, seminars and workshops, a resource library and volunteer opportunities.
Dunkley said that anyone in treatment or in remission may attend classes regardless of where they receive their treatment. For information, call 410-266-5526 or visit www.macancersupport.org.
"I'm extremely pleased with where it's going," Dunkley said. "At first I had no sense of direction, I was just blindly going ahead with it because this is what I felt the Lord was leading me to do."
"Now here I am speaking at civil clubs and churches, and my mind is constantly thinking about ways to help these people," he added. "They have been through so much, and at the end of all of this when I hear them say 'Howard, this is great,' it's worth it."
