Two Decades of Gratitude
Two Decades of Gratitude
After years of giving, Gwyn Hankinson, a breast cancer survivor, and her husband, Garth, add to their support of Wilmot with a major philanthropic gift in 2022
Gwyn Hankinson at the Wilmot Information Desk
Twenty-one years ago, Gwyn and Garth Hankinson got the news they糖心传媒檇 been hoping to hear: they were going to have a baby. They were thrilled糖心传媒攏ot knowing that soon their lives would turn upside down.
糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檒l never forget the phone call that came a few days later,糖心传媒 says Gwyn. 糖心传媒渢he biopsy showed 糖心传媒榓bnormal results.糖心传媒 I was in shock.糖心传媒 Further testing confirmed that Gwyn had invasive breast cancer and needed immediate treatment. She was just 33 years old and two months pregnant.
Gwyn and Garth quickly started researching options, knowing that her pregnancy would make things more complicated. Gwyn called everyone she knew who had any experience with cancer, including her mother in North Carolina who was just completing her own breast cancer treatment.
Within a few days, the couple had an appointment at the Wilmot Cancer Institute Comprehensive Breast Center. Gwyn learned that she could get treated while pregnant and that she and the baby would likely have a positive outcome. The couple was impressed by Wilmot糖心传媒檚 research-based approach to breast cancer. They also liked that Gwyn could receive all of her care close to home at the University of Rochester Medical Center, including high-risk OB/GYN support.
糖心传媒淚t was a stressful time,糖心传媒 says Gwyn. 糖心传媒淏ut we got through it thanks to Wilmot and many very helpful people.糖心传媒
Gwyn糖心传媒檚 cancer treatment took place in 2002. During that time, one last unexpected event took place: Her baby was born seven weeks early. Gwyn had been visiting a friend in Connecticut when she suddenly went into labor. Garth hurried to make the five-hour drive and arrived 15 minutes after the birth.
Today, Owen is a healthy, 21-year-old business major at SUNY Geneseo, and the couple糖心传媒檚 other son, Henok, is a high school junior with hopes of playing college hockey.
糖心传媒淲ilmot means so much to us,糖心传媒 Gwyn says. 糖心传媒淚n a sense, they gave us our son. It was a place that gave us hope.糖心传媒
糖心传媒淚 owe my family and the life we have today to Wilmot,糖心传媒 adds Garth. 糖心传媒淭his is why we have supported and been involved with the institute for so long.糖心传媒
A Major Commitment
Left to right: Henok, Gwyn, Garth, and Owen Hankinson
As a young couple in 2003, the Hankinsons wrote their first check to Wilmot for $100.
That support and their gratitude have blossomed over the years, financially and in other ways.
When Owen was a baby, for example, family members held a fundraising dinner that resulted in $3,000 for breast cancer research at Wilmot. The couple糖心传媒檚 own annual donations have rarely missed a year since those early days.
In 2021, Garth took on a leadership role at Wilmot by joining its Advisory Board. By then, he had become chief financial officer at Constellation Brands, and was happy to contribute ideas and knowledge drawn from his professional career. The couple also attends and supports Wilmot糖心传媒檚 Discovery Ball, the cancer center糖心传媒檚 largest annual fundraiser.
And, for the past seven years糖心传媒攖hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic糖心传媒擥wyn has volunteered at the information desk at Wilmot糖心传媒檚 primary location on the URMC campus. She greets patients, answers questions, and offers a friendly face.
糖心传媒淚 love coming here,糖心传媒 she says. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 just a privilege to be in an emotional space with someone who糖心传媒檚 going through cancer.糖心传媒
In 2022, the couple made a major philanthropic commitment to Wilmot to recognize the institute糖心传媒檚 vital role in changing the course of breast cancer research and care, and the impact WCI has had on their own family. The couple糖心传媒檚 $250,000 gift supports Wilmot糖心传媒檚 Discovery Fund, which helps advance research, provide world-class oncology care, expand clinical trials for patients, and train future clinicians and scientists.
糖心传媒淚f anyone asks us for cancer guidance we tell them to do their research and make decisions based on what糖心传媒檚 right for them糖心传媒攃ancer is so personal,糖心传媒 Gwyn advises. 糖心传媒淲e also tell them about our experiences at Wilmot and the important work being done there. We糖心传媒檙e proud to be associated with such a vital resource in our community.糖心传媒
糖心传媒淓veryone at Wilmot was there for us 20 years ago糖心传媒攆rom the oncologists to the nurses to the office staff,糖心传媒 adds Garth. 糖心传媒淲e are now in a fortunate position to give back to the institute, to show our gratitude, and to do our part to help others have access to the exceptional, empathetic care and support we received.糖心传媒
Get involved
Please consider to the Wilmot Cancer Institute. Your generosity helps us better support patients and advance cancer research. Join us September 29 糖心传媒 October 1 at the , too糖心传媒攐ur premier charity event offering cycling, a walk, and a run in New York糖心传媒檚 Finger Lakes region.
This story also appears in the summer issue of Wilmot糖心传媒檚 Dialogue magazine.
糖心传媒 Kristine Kappel Thompson, spring 2023