The new comprehensive cancer center in Harnett County has received a $250,000 commitment from Arc3 Gases of Dunn and the Aldredge family. Brothers Emmett Aldredge III and Christopher Aldredge recently toured the facility with a small group that included Harnett Health President Cory Hess, Cape Fear Valley Health CEO Michael Nagowski and Harnett Health Foundation Chair Emeritus Cornelia T. Stewart. Emmett Aldredge III is also a former member of the Harnett Health Foundation Board.

“Our family is proud to support the new Cancer Center at Central Harnett Hospital,” the family said in a statement. “There are many people in our community touched by cancer. It is exciting to see new services like this that enhance local care and improve the wellbeing of patients. We are also pleased that Arc3 Gases associates and their families have access to such a robust local health system.”

The new Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center – Central Harnett Hospital will be located in the Cape Fear Valley Health Pavilion-Lillington currently under construction near the campus of Central Harnett Hospital. Harnett Health and Cape Fear Valley broke ground on the facility in Aug. 2023 and it’s on schedule to open in November of this year. Tentative plans for the facility also include specialists such as Orthopedics/Podiatry; Ear, Nose, Throat/Allergy/Audiology; a surgical clinic, Neurology; Cardiology and Rheumatology.

Stewart, who has worked towards building the cancer center for many years, enjoyed touring the building.

“Our new cancer center has been well planned for years,” she said in a release. “Now is the time to complete the bricks and mortar to equip the facility with state-of-the-art equipment to welcome our doctors, nurses and many other employees to join the community in service. We are committed to the best loving care. Everyone is important.”

Stewart said she described the new building as giving hope and recovery to the community.

“This healing center radiates hope,” she said in a press release. “We will never cease to give hope through healing by the grace of almighty God.”

The Cancer Center will anchor the new three-story, 66,000-square-foot Cape Fear Valley Health Pavilion-Lillington. The new 17,000-square-foot Cancer Center will offer the full spectrum of cancer care, including radiation oncology services. Currently, Central Harnett Hospital in Lillington offers cancer services, including diagnosis and chemotherapy, with nine infusion chairs available. However, it does not currently have the ability to offer radiation therapy, nor is there another option for radiation treatment available within Harnett County. 

Windows in each of the new Center’s infusion suites will look out on a peaceful “Healing Garden” that will be named in memory of Emmett and Christopher Aldredge’s mother, Carla Parker Aldredge. The Healing Garden is a 3,000-square-foot area with arbors, benches, tables and seating. It will be a peaceful, private space designed specifically for cancer center patients and their families. The garden will feature a beautiful pergola and be fenced in to ensure privacy. It will provide an opportunity for families, visitors and patients to enjoy some time outside, as well as view of the garden from the infusion bays. The garden will be filled with perennial plants, creating a soothing environment that encourages relaxation and healing.l

Community members can join the effort to help bring comprehensive cancer care to the area by reaching out to the Harnett Health Foundation. The Harnett Health Foundation also offers people a way to honor or memorialize their loved ones through an engravable brick donation program that supports this endeavor. To help pave the way for cancer patients in this state-of-the-art facility to come or for more information, call  Foundation Executive Director Scott Childers, (910) 766-7119 or visit www.polarengraving.com/harnetthealthfoundation.