Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine

What Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine does

The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine (CRCofWM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered at 59 Winter Street, Norway, Maine, that delivers free cancer support services to residents of Oxford County and surrounding towns. The organization was founded by breast cancer survivor Barbara Deschenes together with co-founders Suanne Craib and David Wilson, all cancer survivors; the Center outgrew an initial room in the Stephens Memorial Hospital Oncology building at 199 Main Street before relocating to its current dedicated space. The Center maintains a 4-person paid staff (Executive Director, Cancer Resource Navigator, Administrative Coordinator, Oncology Social Worker), supplemented by an extensive volunteer network that includes Comfort Angels and Cross Country Quilters, and is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors.

The organization's service portfolio addresses three primary stressors common to cancer patients — financial, physical, and emotional — through coordinated programs: one-on-one cancer resource navigation, in-person support groups (Women's Cancer Support Group, Men's Rally Group, Bridgton Cancer Patient Support Group), the Live Well Card program providing up to four free complementary therapy sessions annually with approved wellness providers (massage, reiki, reflexology, yoga therapy, acupuncture), wellness classes (Chair Yoga, Craft & Chat, meditation, MBSR), and practical support including Hannaford food gift cards, travel/lodging cards for treatment access, comfort items (handmade hats, quilts, pillows, wigs), and a soup program. Educational outreach is delivered through the "I Screen, You Screen" monthly article series in four local newspapers and a YouTube library of recorded classes. CRCofWM is a founding member of the Association of Maine Cancer Support Centers (AMCSC), a five-organization peer network.

CRCofWM has no proprietary technology stack underlying its core services; the Live Well Card program operates as a voucher-based relationship with vetted wellness providers. Revenue is generated entirely from donations and grants — individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (notably from the Maine Cancer Foundation and the John T. Gorman Foundation), planned giving/estate provisions, retail affiliate programs (Amazon Smile, iGive), and community fundraisers (Turkey Trot 4 Hope, Norway Arts Festival, Tee Off for Hope, partnerships with local businesses such as Brickyard Hollow Brewing Company). All services are provided at no cost to patients, survivors, caregivers, and families.

Name

Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine

Legal name

Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine

Website

https://www.crcofwm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free cancer support — navigation, support groups, wellness programs, food/travel aid, and the Live Well Card complementary therapy network — to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families across Oxford County, Maine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Support Services (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Chronic Condition Lifestyle Coaching (Non-Clinical) (HSADAGAH)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Nonprofit healthcare
• Cancer navigation
• Wellness programs
• Community support

Headquarters

HQ city

Raymond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization relies on individual and corporate donations from the community to fund wellness programs, educational programs, resources, travel and food assistance, and comfort items.
2. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from Maine Cancer Foundation and John T. Gorman Foundation specifically for travel assistance and food assistance programs, as well as operating funds for programs and supportive services.
3. Planned Giving: Estate planning provisions allowing donors to leave money, property and/or stocks to the organization.
4. Retail Affiliate Programs: Amazon Smile donates 0.5% of eligible purchases; iGive enables earning money through online purchases at 1700+ partner stores with up to 26% donated.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine provides free cancer support services to anyone impacted by cancer in Oxford County and surrounding towns, delivered through one-on-one Cancer Resource Navigation, peer support groups, wellness programming (Chair Yoga, Craft & Chat, recorded classes), the Live Well Card program for free complementary therapy sessions, and financial assistance for food (Hannaford gift cards) and travel/lodging to treatment, alongside comfort items such as wigs and handmade quilts and educational content on cancer screening. All services are offered at no cost, funded by individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and community fundraisers.

Product overview

The Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering free cancer support services to Oxford County and surrounding communities. The organization provides a coordinated suite of services addressing the three primary stressors of cancer patients: financial, physical, and emotional. Core offerings include Cancer Resource Navigation, Support Groups (Men's Rally Group, Women's Cancer Support Group, Bridgton Cancer Patient Support Group), and the Live Well Card Program providing free complementary therapy sessions. Wellness programming includes Chair Yoga, Craft & Chat, Stamping Up, and over 30 Recorded Classes on YouTube. Practical support encompasses Food & Travel Assistance (Hannaford gift cards and travel/lodging cards), Comfort Items & Wigs, and the Soup Program. Educational resources include the 'I Screen, You Screen' monthly cancer screening series and Complementary Therapy Services (massage, reiki, reflexology, yoga, nutrition, ayurveda, somatic movement). All services are provided free of charge to anyone impacted by cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Live Well Card: A free card program for cancer survivors and caregivers providing access to complementary therapy sessions including Reiki, Oncology Massage, Therapeutic Yoga, Reflexology, and more from participating wellness providers in western Maine.

Products and services

• Cancer Resource Navigation Services One-on-one support from a Cancer Resource Navigator who helps patients explore resources and navigate their cancer journey, addressing financial, physical, and emotional stressors; available free to anyone impacted by cancer in Oxford County and surrounding towns.
• Support Groups In-person peer support groups including Women's Cancer Support Group, Men's Rally Group, and Bridgton Cancer Patient Support Group providing community connection for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families.
• Live Well Card Program Free card program for cancer survivors and caregivers providing up to four complementary therapy sessions per year including Reiki, Oncology Massage, Therapeutic Yoga, Reflexology, Aroma Touch, and related therapies from approved western Maine wellness providers.
• Chair Yoga Gentle yoga program utilizing seated and standing poses with chair support, taught by certified instructors including Kat Larsen (Oncology Yoga Certified) and Susan Kane, improving core strength, balance, flexibility, and stress reduction for cancer patients and survivors.
• Craft & Chat Weekly creative crafting sessions held Mondays at the Center, providing stress management and social connection with all supplies provided, run by the Administrative Coordinator.
• Stamping Up Greeting Cards Monthly greeting card making sessions led by Kathy Pulsifer, offering creative self-expression with all materials provided at the Cancer Resource Center.
• Food & Travel Assistance Grant-funded program providing Hannaford gift cards for food and gift cards for travel and lodging to cancer treatments for eligible cancer patients in western Maine.
• Comfort Items & Wigs Free comfort items including handmade hats, quilts, pillows, port protectors, rice packs, chemotherapy shirts, and new or refurbished wigs for cancer patients in treatment.
• Soup Program Free homemade frozen soup available to cancer patients in treatment, provided in individual containers designed to be easy to thaw and prepare at home.
• Recorded Wellness Classes Virtual wellness programming available via YouTube including guided meditation, yoga, Mindful Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Ayurveda cooking classes, plus live virtual Monday Morning Meditation and Thursday MBSR sessions.
• Public Wellness Workshops Community wellness activities including monthly Drum Circle and Wellness Share events at the Center for Healing Arts offering reflexology, massage, and reiki.
• I Screen, You Screen Education Series Monthly cancer screening awareness initiative providing articles in local newspapers on various cancer types including lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, melanoma, and survivorship topics.
• Complementary Therapy Services Integrative therapies including Oncology Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, Chair Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Gentle Flow Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Nutrition Consultation, Ayurveda Consultation, and Somatic Movement Therapy, delivered via in-person sessions and the Live Well Card network.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Brickyard Hollow Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2024Community partnership where Brickyard Hollow donated a portion of proceeds from sales on May 5th (Portland location) and May 19th (New Gloucester location) to the Cancer Resource Center. Raffle tickets and 50/50 tickets were also sold at each location.
• Association of Maine Cancer Support Centers (AMCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRC of WM is a founding member of AMCSC, a network of five cancer-related organizations providing cancer-related supports, services and complementary therapies to patients, survivors, caregivers and families in Maine. Born out of Maine Impact Cancer Network, funded by Maine Cancer Foundation.
• Norway Memorial LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDisplay case at Norway Memorial Library featuring personal items including wigs, knitted scarves, pillows, soup mix, support group information, and contact details - on display through end of March 2026.
• Bridgton Community CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to offer weekly Chair Yoga classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and monthly Bridgton Cancer Patient Support Group meetings on the 1st Thursday of each month.
• Williams Broadcasting GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWilliams Broadcasting Group provided opportunity for CRCofWM to discuss their center and services on their podcast platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Support Community: A national nonprofit network providing free cancer support services including support groups, educational workshops, and healthy lifestyle programs to patients and families. Most directly comparable to CRC of WM as a free, community-based cancer support model, but operates at a much larger national scale with affiliate centers.
• American Cancer Society: The largest U.S. cancer-focused nonprofit, offering patient navigation, support programs, lodging, transportation, and free services to cancer patients nationwide. Overlaps significantly with CRC of WM's cancer navigation, travel assistance, and patient support services, but at a vastly larger national scale.
• Livestrong Foundation: National nonprofit focused on supporting cancer survivors through navigation, wellness programs, and community resources. Comparable to CRC of WM's survivor-focused Live Well Card and wellness programming, but with broader national reach and a longer-established brand.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: A national nonprofit providing free support services, financial assistance, education, and peer networks to blood cancer patients and families. Comparable patient support and education model to CRC of WM but disease-specific to blood cancers and operates at national scale.
• Susan G. Komen: The largest breast cancer-focused nonprofit, providing education, patient navigation, financial assistance, and support. Comparable in delivering free breast cancer support services — which aligns with CRC of WM's founder Barbara Deschenes' breast cancer origin story — but operates nationally with affiliate offices.

Direct peers

• CancerCare: A national nonprofit providing free professional support services including counseling, support groups, educational workshops, and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer. Closely mirrors CRC of WM's combination of emotional support, financial aid, and education — but serves patients nationally rather than in a single rural county.
• Imerman Angels: A nonprofit providing free one-on-one peer mentorship connecting cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Highly comparable to CRC of WM's Cancer Resource Navigation service in delivering personalized support, but operates virtually across the U.S. rather than as a place-based center.
• Cancer Hope Network: A nonprofit matching cancer patients and caregivers with trained volunteer mentors who have faced similar diagnoses. Comparable peer support mission and free service model to CRC of WM, though delivered nationally through phone/video rather than in-person at a physical center.

Regional players

• Maine Cancer Foundation: A Maine-focused nonprofit that funds cancer prevention, screening, and patient support programs across the state — including grant funding to CRC of WM. Operates in the same regional cancer support ecosystem but primarily as a funder and convener of the Maine Impact Cancer Network rather than as a direct service provider.

Others

• Association of Maine Cancer Support Centers: A network of five Maine-based cancer support organizations of which CRC of WM is a founding member. Network peers (other member centers) are the most direct operational comparables — providing free cancer-related supports, services, and complementary therapies across Maine.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cancerresourcecenterofwest2792
• Facebookfacebook.com/CRCWesternMaine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ptcbsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine