The HaysMed Foundation has received a second major gift toward its $1.3 million campaign, Envision a Future without Cancer … One Patient at a Time.

The campaign will help support the purchase of a linear accelerator with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy capability for Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute.

Lillian Schumacher of Hays, formerly from Victoria, has contributed a gift of $100,000 to the foundation.

Schumacher previously has made generous investments at HaysMed for diagnostic and radiation equipment, the nurse residency program, facility construction and renovation and many other health care programs.

The institute was named in honor of her parents, Leo and Albina Dreiling and Hays residents Bob and Pat Schmidt.

SBRT is a major advancement in radiation therapy that maintains the effectiveness of standard treatment and greatly decreases the number of times a patient needs to come in for treatment. A high dose of radiation is targeted precisely at a patient’s tumor, and healthy tissue is avoided. A standard radiation treatment program of 4 to 9 weeks of daily treatments can be reduced to a total of 5 treatments. Faster delivery times also improve patient comfort during treatments.

“Lillian’s generous gifts have had a tremendous impact on the quality healthcare available for the people of our region,” said Dr. John Jeter, president and CEO of HaysMed. “We are extremely grateful that she continues the legacy of her parents’ philanthropic contributions.”

Donations for the Envision Campaign can be sent to the HaysMed Foundation, 2220 Canterbury Drive, or can be made online at www.haysmedfoundation.org/envision.