St. Luke's Announces Gift in Honor of Jane Borg Cook to Create Free Wellness Program for Cancer Survivors
Rob and Jane Cook
A Cedar Rapids family is providing the lead gift to create a new wellness program for cancer patients at St. Luke's Hospital.
The family of Jane Borg Cook, who died of breast cancer in 2008, is donating $75,000 to create the new Jane Borg Cook Wellness Program at St. Luke's.
The program, which will open in late summer in the former St. Luke's Women's Health Spa building at 810 First Ave. NE, will help cancer patients improve their quality of life by providing physical, nutritional and psychosocial support.
Thanks to the Cook family donation, the services provided through the cancer wellness program will be provided free of charge to cancer survivors.
"We are honored to help launch the Jane Borg Cook Wellness Program," said husband Rob Cook. "We all agree that Jane would love the concept of providing a place where all cancer survivors could go to be safe, comfortable and loved."
"Mom always believed that the best medicine was to be active physically, mentally and emotionally," said daughter Jennifer Davis. "Regular exercise and proper nutrition helped maintain her quality of life for 9 ½ years after her cancer diagnosis. Now she can help other cancer survivors do the same."
"It is fitting that the Cook family has chosen to honor a remarkable woman in this way," said Shannon Duval, President of the St. Luke's Health Care Foundation. "Jane always concentrated on wellness and never let her illness define her. Now, thanks to her family, her spirit can inspire other cancer patients and help them thrive."
Jane Borg Cook left a significant legacy in the Cedar Rapids community after she died in August of 2008. A founding member of the Leadership for Five Seasons program, she was also active in numerous civic organizations including Brucemore, the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Cedar Rapids Community Schools.
Rob and Jane raised three children: Jennifer Davis (Mark) of Denver, Colo.; Katy Cook of Arlington, Va.; and Robbie (Jenni) of Edina, Minn., each of whom is contributing to create the new wellness program.
