News

Paul Timmons Presents Check to Beebe Medical Foundation

08/09/06

Paul Timmons, personal trainer and owner of The Firm Fitness Center in Rehoboth Beach, officially presented the Beebe Medical Foundation with a check for $10,241, which represented individual contributions made in support of his Cape May to Cape Henlopen swim. These funds will be used for the new Tunnell Cancer Center being built at the Beebe Health Campus on Route 24 in Rehoboth Beach. The Center will open in October.

Accepting the check on behalf of the Foundation and Beebe Medical Center, were: Jeffrey M. Fried, President and CEO of Beebe Medical Center, Michael Clemmer, Executive Director of the Beebe Medical Foundation, and Robert Tunnell, III, and his wife Mindi Tunnell. Robert Tunnell's father Robert W. Tunnell, Jr., is chairman of the Tunnell Cancer Center Capital Campaign. His grandparents Robert W. Tunnell, Sr. and Eolyne Tunnell ten years ago provided the initial funding for the Tunnell Cancer Center 11 years ago.

Timmons, whose grandfather was recently treated for lung cancer at the Tunnell Cancer Center on Savannah Road in Lewes, raised the money to increase awareness of cancer and the treatment offered by the Beebe Medical Center cancer program. He completed the record 15-mile solo swim on July 17 in 7 hours and 14 minutes.

The Delaware House of Representatives recognized Timmons for his record swim and for his support of the Tunnell Cancer Center. Attending the presentation were State Representatives Joe Booth, R-Georgetown, and Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth. Rep. Booth read a tribute to Timmons from the Delaware House of Representatives. It was signed by Booth and Schwartzkopf, as well as Speaker of the House Terry R. Spence, R-Stratford, and Chief Clerk of the House JoAnn M. Hedrick.

It is so great to see someone exert oneself for such a good cause, Rep. Booth said after reading the tribute.

Mr. Timmons thanked Rep. Booth and Rep. Schwartzkopf for the recognition.

How often does one have a chance to do something that has never been done before, especially in one's home town, he said. I was honored to have the new Tunnel Cancer Center be the beneficiary for this swim. My grandfather is doing very well, and I have the cancer team at Beebe to thank for that. This is the very least I could do."

Paul Timmons, who has been a competitive endurance athlete for 15 years, is a five-time Ironman triathlon finisher, and has run 16 marathons. However, he has not focused his training on swimming until the last year. He did a first of its kind swim around Alcatraz Island and a 12.5-mile swim around Key West in preparation for the Delaware Bay crossing.


Mr. Fried thanked Mr. Timmons for making his record swim in honor of the Tunnell Cancer Center, and he thanked the Legislators for recognizing the feat and for offering their support of Beebe Medical Center.

Our goal is to meet the healthcare needs of our growing community, Mr. Fried said. It is heartwarming when we receive such unexpected support as we did when we learned that Mr. Timmons was planning to make this swim in honor of his grandfather and the care he received here at the Tunnell Cancer Center. I know that what Mr. Timmons has accomplished, and the notoriety it has brought to us, means a great deal to all of those who work at the Tunnell Cancer Center.

Timmons' 79-year-old grandfather is now in remission and is visiting the cancer center on a follow-up basis. Contributions for the swim are still being accepted. The new Tunnell Cancer will replace the existing Tunnell Cancer Center at the Medical Center's Savannah Road location. It will be double the size of the existing one and continue to offer the latest in cancer care.

Tunnell Cancer Center was established in 1995. It is a Commission on Cancer-approved, comprehensive community cancer center. Its clinical specialties are hematology/medical oncology and radiation oncology. Nearly 200 patients visit the center each day.


Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at .


Caption: Paul Timmons presented the check to Beebe Medical Foundation for $10,241. Pictured here, in front of the new linear accelerator, are: (left to right) Robert Tunnell, III, Mindi Tunnell, Rep. Joe Booth, Paul Timmons, Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, Jeffrey M. Fried.