When you're dealing with cancer, one moment can turn your life upside down, and that's exactly what happened for one young woman not too long ago.

After experiencing ongoing pain, Alice (not her real name) visited the emergency room and got some terrible news. She probably had some form of cancer, the doctor told her, and her only hope was to see a specialist.

That's not a problem for most of us. There are plenty of outstanding doctors in our community who treat the dreaded disease and there's no doubt that medical insurance covers cancer treatment. But for Alice, the news could have been a death sentence. Though she worked hard, her wages couldn't begin to cover specialized care, and she didn't have insurance to help pay the bills.

Faced with a terrible, life-threatening situation, she turned to the Helping Hand Clinic, where volunteer doctors, dentists and pharmacists help people just like Alice — low-income, uninsured patients who have few other options.

Volunteer staff members went to work. One oncologist agreed to see Alice at no cost and, after consultation and tests, confirmed the diagnosis. Alice did, indeed, have cancer and needed surgery. Obviously, that created even more complications for a patient with limited income.

But the volunteers didn't give up either. Marilyn Green, who directs the clinic, called a gifted surgeon, who agreed to donate his expertise, and then discussed the case with hospital officials, who offered an operating room at no charge, and Alice received the medical treatment she desperately needed.

It's a heartwarming story, the kind that often gets lost or dismissed in a fast-paced, often-cynical world. But, I'm thrilled to report that this kind of generosity is common in Sanford. Nearly 100 volunteers are part of the Helping Hands Clinic, and that's just one local group among dozens dedicated to helping our Lee County neighbors in need. That doesn't only mean people with modest incomes, but anyone hit by unexpected tragedies — from fire and flood to the need for blood.

Others in our community donate their time, money and expertise to help young people enjoy a safer, more meaningful life. They work to resolve difficult disputes that could tear apart relationships. They enrich life for those with disabilities. The United Way of Lee County estimates that 25,000 people in our community receive some kind of assistance each year, and the hopeful news is that — here, at least — neighbors are stepping forward to help each other.

Often, the impact volunteers make on individual lives can be hard to express.

When Alice returned to the clinic after her surgery, she was so emotional that she couldn't speak. So, later, the former patient wrote this: "I just wanted to tell you and your staff, thank you so much. You have helped me so much, more than you'll ever know. Thanks to you, Mrs. Green, I'm cancer free. God bless you."