Q: What is the Multi-County
Cancer Support Network?
A: The Multi-County Cancer
Support Network (MCCSN) is a
non-profit organization
designed to provide emotional
and educational support to
cancer patients. MCCSN also
provides financial support to
qualifying cancer patients while
undergoing treatment. The
organization serves an
eight-county area in the
southern portion of Middle
Tennessee. The
counties included are Bedford,
Coffee, Franklin, Grundy,
Lincoln, Marion, Moore and
Warren counties.
Q: How did this organization
come to be?
A: MCCSN was formed January of
1992, when a small group of
people gathered at a local
church to discuss the need for
giving support to people
diagnosed with the dreaded
disease of cancer. See the full
story on the history
website page.
Q. How is MCCSN funded?
A. MCCSN operates entirely on
donations from the communities
in the areas served. A primary
source of revenue comes from the
annual MCCSN Walk-a-Thon
held the first weekend in
September at the stadium on
Dinah Shore Boulevard in
Winchester (next to the Franklin
County Annex Building).
Various organizations sponsor
fundraisers throughout the year
benefiting MCCSN. Donations,
which can be in honor or in
memory of friends and family
members having experienced
cancer, are another important
source.
Q. I had never heard of the
Multi-County Cancer Support
Network. Does MCCSN serve many
people in my area?
A. Yes, people in all the eight
counties served receive
assistance from MCCSN. Perhaps
it is because the founders were
from Franklin and Coffee
counties and with the office
being located in Tullahoma that
the organization is better known
in those areas. Word of mouth
is the primary means of letting
it be known there is an
organized means of support for
people experiencing cancer in
the eight counties served. If
you or someone you know would
like to volunteer to be a
contact person for your area,
please notify the MCCSN office
manager at 800-497-4322 or
e-mail
mccsn@lighttube.org.
Q: I have been diagnosed with
cancer (or know somebody who
has). I would like to speak
with someone who can help me.
How can I meet people associated
with this organization or speak
with someone who knows what I’m
going through?
A: Just call and speak with
Office Manager Dottie Darnell at
931-393-4443 or 800-497-4322.
You may also visit the office
in Tullahoma at 110 E.
Lauderdale (hours are Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday, 8:00 a.m.–
4:00 p.m. – closed for lunch:
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.). You
may also just show up at any of
the meetings or events. Support
meetings are held at the office
on the first Thursdays in the
months March, June, September
and December, 7:00 p.m. The
December meeting is also a
Christmas party you will not
want to miss. The annual
MCCSN Walk-a-Thon is the
first weekend in September.
Q: I would like to offer my
services to Multi-County Cancer
Support Network. Who can tell
me how to go about getting
started as a volunteer and what
can I do?
A: There are many volunteer
opportunities at MCCSN. Some
are driving patients to out of
town treatments, visiting the
sick in the hospital and at
home, or helping prepare for and
working at the annual MCCSN
Walk-a-Thon, helping prepare
monthly newsletters for mailing,
giving support to cancer
patients by attending the
quarterly support meetings. All
it takes is a call to the
office to get involved. By the
way, not all MCCSN supporters
have experienced cancer
themselves, but know or have
known others who have. Also,
see the Ways to support MCCSN
website page.
