KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Cheshire Medical Center has exceeded its ambitious fundraising goal for its largest-ever capital campaign, but hospital leaders say community support is still needed as construction costs continue to climb and several major patient care projects move toward completion.

The Cheshire Health Foundation’s “Our Community, Our Future” campaign has now secured approximately $42.611 million in commitments, surpassing its original $42 million goal. The campaign is funding expanded cancer care, surgical services and outpatient medical facilities designed to help more patients receive treatment close to home.

The progress of the campaign and the construction projects were the focus of a special interview airing on WKBK Radio’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell featuring Sandra Phipps, vice president of philanthropy and community relations, and Rob Therrien, capital campaign committee co-chair, of Cheshire Medical Center.

Phipps said the campaign has entered its grassroots phase, encouraging continued participation from the community regardless of donation size.

“We are now at 42.611 million,” she said during the interview. “The gifts continue to come in of all sizes. The community’s generosity has just been absolutely amazing.”

She noted recent donations ranged from a first-time $20 contribution to a $2,500 retirement fund distribution, illustrating that every gift helps move the campaign forward.

Hospital officials say approximately 700 households have contributed so far, and they hope to push fundraising beyond $43 million as construction costs for the projects now exceed $52 million.

The largest project is the $12 million expansion of the Dartmouth Cancer Center at Cheshire Medical Center, where installation of a second linear accelerator is progressing.

Construction of the radiation treatment bunker has been completed, and the new Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator arrived earlier this month. The sophisticated equipment is assembled from multiple components before undergoing extensive calibration and testing inside a heavily shielded treatment vault equipped with specialized mechanical and control systems.

Hospital officials expect the new machine to become operational later this summer.

The second accelerator will significantly improve cancer care by allowing more patients to receive radiation therapy locally while also providing critical backup if either machine requires maintenance or repairs.

“Our current linear accelerator has been working at times up to 130 percent of its capacity in a given day,” Phipps said. “That means our staff are staying extra hours to make sure everyone gets the treatment they need.”

She said Cheshire currently operates the busiest linear accelerator in New Hampshire, serving patients from throughout the Monadnock Region and beyond.

Adding a second machine means radiation treatments can continue uninterrupted even when one accelerator is offline, eliminating many situations where patients might otherwise have to travel to another facility.

Hospital leaders say keeping care local remains the campaign’s driving mission.

“You’d never want to have to drive an hour plus each way just to have your 15 minutes of radiation therapy,” Phipps said. “This second new linear accelerator is going to help us in so many ways.”

Additional capital projects are also advancing.

Planning continues for an expanded and modernized perioperative surgical suite. After several design revisions aimed at balancing patient needs with affordability, hospital leaders are moving into detailed engineering with construction expected to begin in 2027. The project is currently estimated to cost about $5.2 million.

Meanwhile, renovation work is underway on a new dedicated gastroenterology clinic at Cheshire’s Court Street campus. The space, formerly used for administrative offices, will include provider offices, exam rooms and patient care areas for outpatient gastrointestinal services.

The renovation is expected to be completed by the end of August.

Once gastroenterology services relocate, the vacated space within the cancer center will be converted into additional oncology exam rooms, allowing Cheshire to expand patient capacity.

Hospital officials are also updating their long-range master facilities plan to better utilize both the Court Street and Maple Avenue campuses while accommodating future growth.

Although the campaign has exceeded its original fundraising target, Phipps said continued community support remains essential.

“Every gift makes a difference, and every gift of any amount matters when we all give together,” she said.

Donations can be made through the Cheshire Health Foundation or by contacting the philanthropy office at 603-354-6800.

Hospital leaders also anticipate holding a public ribbon-cutting ceremony later this summer when the expanded cancer center and new linear accelerator are ready to begin treating patients.

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