With frequent moves to new duty stations, military members and their families often arrive at a new location without a traditional support network of friends and family. That’s where the @Armed Services YMCA of Alaska steps in, addressing this issue head-on and providing what Executive Director Sarah Riffer calls wraparound services.
Military personnel, especially airmen and women, face a disproportionate risk of cancer, according to a 2021 study by the National Cancer Institute. But their survival rate is also higher.
Access to early prevention care and regular medical screenings are necessary to allow service members to catch the cancer earlier. ASYMCA is working to make sure service members’ needs are met. At JBER, Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright in Alaska, there is a waiting room just for kids. For up to two hours, children can play supervised and safe while their parents get the medical attention they need.
But ASYMCA relies on donations to fund services. The Children’s Waiting Rooms can make all the difference for access to care. They address a systemic barrier to care faced by parents across the country, allowing military members to seek potentially life-saving medical care. It’s a mission that is close to Riffer’s heart.
“We’re helping someone who is among the one percent to take an oath to serve our nation,” Riffer said. “We strive to make Alaska the best place for them to be stationed.” Board members have glowing remarks about working with Sarah. “It’s important to me that I belong to an organization led by someone who truly believes in the mission,” said ASYMCA board member Terry Umatum. “That’s why I’m so glad I joined the ASYMCA and met Sarah.
I can say with confidence that Sarah is completely devoted to our service members and their families. She’s a relentless advocate and her energy inspires others.
Whether she’s ensuring that a service member can get the treatment they need, consoling a worried family member, or doing something practical like providing childcare during doctor appointments, Sarah and her team provide programs and support that make a huge difference to service members and their families who are facing cancer. She’s a talented leader and a change maker and the ASYMCA is so lucky to have her at the helm.” Additional ASYMCA programs, ranging from rideshare credits addressing transportation insecurity to no-cost food shopping, provide essential tertiary support services — regardless of station or rank.
Riffer is this month’s featured partner in the Aurora Changemaker Spotlight, a series by AIOF to recognize changemakers in Alaska’s cancer care community. In support and recognition of the ASYMCA of Alaska’s crucial work, AIOF has donated $10,000 to the organization, helping make possible services like the Children’s Waiting Rooms across the state.