Legacy of love: Sentara embraces the art of giving back

Every day for two and a half years, 84-year-old Harold Farley drove to the Woodlawn cemetery on Virginia Beach Boulevard to visit the grave of his wife, Carolyn.

He knew he loved her. What he didn’t know was that remembering the 60 years of love they shared would save his life—and the lives of many others.

“Driving to the cemetery every day, I saw the Sentara Brock Cancer Center get built from the ground up,” said Farley. “A year after my wife passed away, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and of course, I knew where to go.”

During his cancer treatments, Farley became a volunteer at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center. He would greet patients at the entrance, assist people in wheelchairs, and even dress up as Santa during the holidays.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my lifetime,” said Farley. “I served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, but without a doubt this is the most gratifying thing I’ve ever done—being able to give back.”

To give back—that is the true meaning of philanthropy: when someone gives their time, talent, and treasure to make life better for others.

In July, Sentara will celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center and the spirit of volunteering and giving that has brought it to life.

‘A grateful patient—with a capital G’

Sentara’s first hospital was built back in 1888, when a group of local businessmen in Norfolk, Virginia, saw a need—and decided to do something about it. They pooled their money to open the 25-bed Norfolk Retreat for the Sick—not for profit, but for people.

More than 135 years later, it’s still philanthropy—people giving because they care—that helps Sentara grow, innovate, and improve the health of our communities.

“I’m what you call a grateful patient—with a capital G,” said Joan Brock, a beloved philanthropist and member of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center Advisory Board. “I was so happy when they asked me to be part of the Sentara Brock Cancer Center because I’ve had three cancers! I wouldn’t be here without you all. Sentara saved my life.”