Do you have 10 minutes to spare to help those in the area who may be impacted by cancer in the future?

Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center leaders sure hope you do.

The hospital is applying to add a cancer center at the new facility being built, but first must receive a Certificate of Need from the State Health Facilities Council.

Here’s where you come in.

Write a letter of support and send it by Aug. 5 to: Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center Administration, 3 South 4th Ave., Marshalltown, IA 50158 or by email to publicrelations@marshmed.com.

Imagine being able to tell a person battling cancer that their hour-long drive was not needed as they can be treated right in their own area at the new hospital.

Imagine being able to get radiation treatments without having it be a day-long ordeal.

We see this as a tremendous benefit to our community and it will also bring those from other communities to the area.

A state-of-the-art hospital facility in on the way, but you can help it be even better.

MMSC leaders are hoping to get at least 1,000 letters from the community to submit with the Certificate of Need application.

In its promotional materials, MMSC includes the quote “An individual doesn’t get cancer, a community does.”

Well, if that is true the community should help to try to get a place to combat cancer locally.

Taking 10 minutes to write a letter indicating how this cancer center will positively affect this community seems more than worth it.

For more information about this initiative call MMSC at 641-754-5090.