Our History

The Josh Palmer Fund was established in 1999 after Josh Palmer’s battle with late-stage Hodgkin’s disease began. What started as one family’s experience with cancer quickly grew into a larger mission: helping local individuals and families across the Twin Tiers face cancer with support, dignity, and hope.

Through Josh’s diagnosis and treatment, the Palmer family saw firsthand that cancer affects far more than a person’s health. It places emotional, physical, and financial pressure on the entire family. Travel expenses, utility bills, groceries, lodging, medications, and other everyday needs can quickly become overwhelming during treatment.

The Fund was created to help meet those needs in a direct and meaningful way.

Since its beginning, the Josh Palmer Fund has grown because of the generosity of local families, businesses, schools, volunteers, athletes, coaches, and community members who believe in its mission. Through signature events and year-round support, the Fund brings people together not only to raise money, but to provide real help to neighbors facing some of the hardest moments of their lives.

The Fund also works closely with WINK, Women in Pink, to support women and families facing breast cancer and other cancer diagnoses. That partnership reflects the same shared purpose that has guided the Josh Palmer Fund from the beginning: making sure help stays local and reaches people when they need it most.

In addition to patient and family assistance, the Josh Palmer Fund also invests in the future through scholarships for graduating student-athletes throughout the region. Each year, up to $5,000 is awarded to students who demonstrate strong character, leadership, resilience, and commitment to their schools and communities.

At its heart, the Josh Palmer Fund has always been about local people helping local people — making sure no one in this community has to face cancer alone.