Rock campaign, including
million goal early,” Mr. Maher
individuals, corporations,
says, “and we’ve continued
civic clubs, and family
fundraising from there.”
foundations, recognize the
The cancer center will be
need for a comprehensive
located on the ground floor
cancer center in the region.
of the four-story specialty
“The community responded
clinic being constructed on
to and supported us,” he says.
the campus of Baylor Scott
One of those donors is Mr.
& White Medical Center -
Burdett’s neighbor, Merle
Round Rock. It will serve
Mueller of Georgetown’s Sun
the needs of patients in the
City. Mr. Mueller, a retired
Round Rock-Austin area, one
aeronautical engineer, made
of the nation’s fastest-growing
a gift to the campaign in
population centers. When the
memory of his wife, Wanda,
population rises, the demand
who was treated for cancer at
for cancer care also increases,
Wanda Mueller understood the importance of a
Baylor Scott & White and
Mr. Maher says. The area
peaceful retreat during cancer treatment, a need that
died in November 2014. The
had 6,620 new cancer cases
will be met in the healing garden at the new cancer
cancer center’s new healing
in 2016, or the equivalent of
center through Mr. Mueller’s gift in her memory.
garden will be named in
18 new diagnoses a day. It’s
her honor.
expected that the number of
Previously, the Muellers were active
new cancer diagnoses will proportionally seek care closer to home but outside
in raising funds for the existing healing
outpace the population growth, in line the Baylor Scott & White system.
garden at the Round Rock hospital.
with nationwide trends, he says.
Mr. Mueller says his wife understood
“This area is experiencing A healing gift to help others
tremendous growth, and it’s our job “Traveling for radiation treatment can its benefits. “She knew it would be
to take care of the people in our be a burden, especially when patients good for people with cancer to have
community,” says Mr. Maher.
have to go to Austin,” says Tom Burdett. the healing garden for recuperation
The 35,000-square-foot cancer He and his wife, Carlie, are co-chairs of and enjoyment.”
Mr. Mueller is proud to be part of
center will bring together under one the cancer center campaign. “It’s not
roof all aspects of cancer care—medical that far distance-wise,” Mr. Burdett the cancer center campaign. “It does my
oncology, radia