The Wellness Community-Delmarva (TWC) provides support, education and hope to people affected by cancer.  Services are offered free of charge and are funded entirely by private donations.

Creating a not-for-profit organization that provides professional services and relies totally on donations for funding is an extraordinary undertaking.  On June 19, TWC honored Hursey Porter, St. Mary's Episcopal Church member and Tyaskin resident, at the annual Celebration of Hope for his vision, persistence and hard work which fosters the organization's growth and development.

TWC presented Hursey with the Spirit of Survivorship Award for his remarkable attitude as a long-time survivor of lung cancer, for his dedication to empowering other cancer survivors, and for his tireless efforts to create a Wellness Community on the Shore.

In 1993, Hursey was a successful realtor-owner of a leading real estate firm, happily married to Nancy, when a diagnosis of lung cancer changed their lives forever.  As Nancy Porter explains:  "I was not given much encouragement that Hursey could survive this cancer, and we were exhausted and depressed.  An acquaintance called and told us that he survived lung cancer and that Hursey could beat it, too.  His words gave us hope, and that hope empowered us to fight for his recovery."

"Creating a Wellness Community became a big part of our life."  Hursey notes.  "We researched models of service delivery, raised awareness, money, and created a first class organization from scratch."  As the TWC Executive Director Joan Mulvanny notes, "Hursey had the difficult job of serving as president for this fledgling organization but his perseverance, tact, charm and savvy got TWC off the ground.”

Source:  Business Journal with modifications (July 2007)