Miles Perret Cancer Services was featured on the Discover Lafayette Podcast in 2019 to discuss its important mission in helping fund the needs of local families going through the physical, emotional, and financial effects of a family member getting a diagnosis of cancer. You can listen to the interview here.
The organization was founded in honor of Miles Perret who tragically died at the age of eight years of age in 2001 from glioblastoma. From this experience, his parents, Hank and Debbie Verret, had the vision to help others in Acadiana fight, survive and live with cancer with dignity and to have access to the services they may need.
For the past 20 years, its major and signature fundraiser was the Games of Acadiana which was open to the public free of charge. Given the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the organization is hosting its first “Games Across Acadiana” which is a virtual scavenger hunt taking place from August 1 through August 20, 2020. More information may be obtained here.
Interested parties who want to play Games Across Acadiana can download a free app, perform fun tasks, and earn points for a chance to be entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes including a Grand Prize of $10,000. Discover Lafayette’s producer, RADER, has been an ongoing sponsor of Miles Perret Cancer Services.
In the 2019 Discover Lafayette Podcast interview, Richard Stegall and Sherry Hernandez spoke with Jan Swift of Discover Lafayette about the 19th Annual Games of Acadiana. The history of the organization is compelling and indicative of the generosity of the Acadiana community.
Although Miles Perret lived only eight years, his was a life filled with curiosity, joy, and love. When Miles was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, his family determined right away that he would have as normal and carefree a life as possible. Their journey with him provided firsthand experience of the daily challenges of fighting cancer. Miles, unfortunately, lost his battle with cancer at the age in 1996.
A few years later, the Perret family started Games of Acadiana, a family-oriented fundraising event, first held August 25, 2001. The amazing success of the first Game Day enabled the Miles Perret Center to open less than a year later to help address the needs of local families.
Games of Acadiana is still the signature fundraiser of Miles Perret Cancer Services and are held as a tribute and way to say thanks to the community, the many volunteers that make Miles Perret’s services possible, as well as the survivors who have bravely faced cancer.
Since 2002, Miles Perret Cancer Services has served over 16,000 families in Acadiana. In 2018 alone, 3400 families were helped. 100% of the funds raised stay in Acadiana. Parishes in their service area include Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Iberia, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion. They offer 25 services and programs to the community, including prostheses, wigs, nutritional supplements, transportation assistance, a variety of medical supplies and equipment, a Wellness Center offering exercise and nutrition classes, and support groups. The staff works closely with local oncologists and hospitals to ensure that their services meet the needs of their clients. Mobile Miles offers outreach services to clients living in the parishes outside of Lafayette to coordinate delivery of needed items and services.
For more information on the services provided by Miles Perret Cancer Services, visit http://www.milesperret.org or call 337-984-1920.
Miles Perret Cancer Services also accepts private donations, memorial gifts, and grants. Miles Perret Cancer Services is a non-medical 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donation is fully tax-deductible as a charitable donation under IRS tax regulations.