Ground broken for new cancer treatment center

March 4 - Organizers of the groundbreaking ceremony for The Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center say they welcomed more than 200 guests to Wednesday’s event.

"This seems surreal," Darryl Worley, the event’s honored guest said during the event. "I don’t think it was real to me until just now."

Worley, at times tearful, shared his personal story for wanting to see the center built.

On various occasions, Worley recounted the impact of his two grandfathers’ deaths upon his pursuit of cancer treatment services within Hardin County.

Hailed as a hometown hero by Randy Isbell, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Worley, through The Darryl Worley Foundation, pledged $600,000 to the cancer treatment center’s construction.

He continues fund-raising efforts at his annual Tennessee River Run as well as other performances.

"Today is a very special day," Charlotte Burns, CEO of Hardin Medical Center said. "We have waited a long time for this day to get here. Our journey began in early 2004 when Darryl shared his vision to have a full-service cancer treatment center here in Hardin County."

Hospital officials expect the new cancer treatment center to open in 2011.

The new facility will expand chemotherapy services already offered by the medical center.

The goal is to reduce stress and long travel required by patients within Hardin County as well as surrounding rural areas to obtain necessary cancer treatment.

Wearing a white hard hat, Worley tossed some dirt with a golden shovel.

"This ground is broken y’all," he said with a grin.