Volunteer Spotlight: Anne Turnage, CanCare Founder

Anne Turnage’s journey began with a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis in 1973 at the age of 46. Instead of succumbing to despair, she maintained a survivor mentality, inspired by her doctor’s encouragement and her unwavering faith.

As she underwent treatment, Anne recognized that while cancer patients had medical care and family support, many still lacked a crucial element—hope. Witnessing the impact of this absence firsthand, she became determined to find a way to offer meaningful emotional support to those facing cancer.

When Anne and her husband moved to Houston in 1989, she found an opportunity to turn her vision into reality. With the backing of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church and generous donors, Anne founded CanCare in 1990. 

What began with 21 supporters and 17 trained volunteers quickly grew into a structured program providing emotional support to cancer patients and caregivers. With expertise from educators and counselors, CanCare developed a robust volunteer training system and secured a dedicated office space in 1991.

Anne dedicated seven years to establishing and expanding CanCare before retiring in 1997. Though she stepped away from daily operations, her legacy endures in the thousands of volunteers trained and the countless lives touched by CanCare’s mission. Her vision of ensuring no one faces cancer alone continues to thrive, proving that one person’s resilience can inspire hope for many.

For a deeper look into Anne Turnage’s incredible journey and the founding of CanCare, check out Hope in the Face of Cancer.