LIBERTY — The Pickens County Legislative Delegation held its 2017 annual public meeting at the Six Mile Town Hall in January and announced that the Distinguished Service Award for 2016 was awarded to Michael Batchelor for his leadership role in partnering to launch the Cancer Association of Pickens County.
Delegation members attending were Sens. Thomas C. Alexander (District 1) and Rex F. Rice (District 2); House Reps. Neal A. Collins (District 5), David R. Hiott (District 4), and Gary E. Clary (District 3).
The public meeting provides a chance for the Delegation to receive input from organizations and the public through presentations and comments.
Tom Strange, director of research and development at St. Jude Medical, explained that by acting on an opportunity that was brought before the board by the Greenville Cancer Society to find a way to bring equivalent services to Pickens County, Batchelor was instrumental in leveraging the purchasing opportunities and space at the Palmetto Baptist Easley Hospital.
Now the Cancer Association of Pickens County exists to enable Pickens County residents to obtain the goods and services previously available only to Greenville County residents.
Batchelor’s suggestions were taken up by the Greenville Cancer Society as well to save their organization over $100,000 per year on goods when purchased through the Greenville Health System.
For his tireless efforts to connect the critical parties together and help make the Cancer Association of Pickens County a reality, MCPC will donate $1,000 to the charity of his choosing in his honor.
As the presentation concluded Batchelor thanked MCPC and the Delegation and noted this award has significant meaning to him, because the town of Six Mile was the site of the first hospital in Pickens County, established in 1925 by Dr. Peek.
The new Cancer Association of Pickens County will offer direct services to cancer patients and their families, including:
• Help with paying for prescriptions
• Transportation to medical appointments
• Wigs and medical supplies
• Nutritional supplements like Ensure and PediaSure
• Medical equipment, lymphedema supplies and ostomy products
• Respite care and emergency assistance with paying a house payment or utility bill
• Free support groups and one-on-one counseling
“Working as a team Baptist Easley, Pickens industrial leaders, local donors and companies contributed to make the Cancer Association of Pickens County a reality,” said Tom O’Hanlan, chairman of the board of directors at Baptist Easley Hospital and CEO of Sealevel Systems Inc.
Manufacturers Caring for Pickens County was formed by a group of business leaders to advocate STEM education, economic development and social benefits impacting quality of life and growth in Pickens County.
The group’s mission is to reach out to the Pickens County community and to enhance, develop and enrich the county’s socioeconomic values and conditions. Visit www.manufacturerscaringforpickens.com for more information.
