The SECU Cancer Center at the Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina is now open to patients, according to an announcement made at a recent donor luncheon and ribbon cutting ceremony.

Trustees of the Mission Foundation announced they had reached their $ 15 million goal to help fund the project.

SECU Foundation started the fundraising campaign with a $ 5 million grant in 2010 and naming rights recognizing the Credit Union members’ gift.

The five-story SECU Cancer Center houses all outpatient cancer services in one location, and through an established partnership between Mission Cancer Program and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, provides improved cancer care for many western North Carolinians.

During the luncheon, Trustees of Mission Foundation Campaign Chairman Peter Fontaine noted, “The Foundation team, the community and our many friends at State Employees’ Credit Union have come together and given generously during the past 24 months to reach this major goal.”

The campaign is one of the largest, most successful campaigns in the region during the past decade.” – ?John Locke Mission Foundation Campaign Director

It shows that when our region feels passionately about ‘taking care of its own’ they step up and give generously.”

SECU Foundation was formed with the philosophy of People Helping People.?By partnering with Mission Hospital and the Mission Healthcare Foundation, State Employees’ Credit Union members, via their Foundation, are able to continue putting this philosophy in practice. Many SECU members and their families have been touched by cancer, and their landmark gift of $ 5 million to the SECU Cancer Center will help to bring a wide array of benefits to cancer patients living in Western North Carolina.” – ?Jim Barber ?SECU Foundation Board Chair