Our Story: A Journey of Hope and Helping Hands

OUR STORY

From Diagnosis to Purpose: The Story of Care to Share

In September of 2002, Teresa Davenport, founder of Care to Share, was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma. After walking through her own cancer journey, she felt a deep calling to create a space where others facing cancer could find comfort, encouragement, and community. That desire became the seed for what would grow into Care to Share.

At a Relay for Life event, Teresa met Lavetta Simmons and Joy O’Neal, and asked if they would consider helping her start a cancer support group in Fort Scott. Their response was an enthusiastic yes—and from that moment, something special began to take shape.

The group held its very first support meeting on July 7, 2007. Attendees were asked to write down name suggestions for the group, and in a fun, meaningful twist, the final name was drawn out of a hat. The name selected was Care to Share—an idea submitted by Lavetta herself. It felt like the perfect fit, and so, the Care to Share Cancer Support Group was born.

In October 2008, the mission grew deeper. A childhood friend of Teresa’s reached out after her 4-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer. Teresa rallied her high school classmates and the local community for a fundraiser. That night, over $8,000 was raised to help the young girl and her family. It was a turning point.

That single act of compassion sparked an idea: what if they could do this for others too?

Shortly after, Teresa and her team met with Pat Bishop, who helped guide the group through the process of becoming a legal nonprofit. In that moment, Care to Share Cancer Support Group of Bourbon County was officially established with 501(c)(3) status. A Board of Directors was formed, and what started as a dream became a growing mission in motion.

By February 2009, the group made a public commitment to begin actively raising funds for local cancer survivors. That same month, the idea of the Sharing Bucket was introduced and quickly embraced with a unanimous vote. Just one month later, Care to Share held its first official fundraiser at the Fort Scott Home Show, raising $400 in a single day. Momentum continued to build. Gina Allen designed the first logo, and Billy Webster generously donated the first seven yellow t-shirts, which the team proudly wore at that first event.

In 2010, the organization adopted its guiding motto: “God Given. God Driven." Time and time again, when challenges arose or resources ran low, God made a way. That same year, the organization received its first memorial donation, a deeply meaningful gift. The Board of Directors made the decision to invest a portion of it, ensuring that Care to Share would continue its mission for generations to come.

From a personal diagnosis to a growing community of support, what began with a simple desire to help others has blossomed into a life-giving organization that continues to serve, uplift, and bring hope to cancer survivors and their families.