The Wichita Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Wichita, Kansas that provides financial assistance to local cancer patients. Our foundation is completely independent, entirely donation-based, and mostly volunteer-run.
The Wichita Cancer Foundation’s mission is to provide financial assistance to cancer patients whose care is initiated or received in the state of Kansas in the form of insurance premium payments. Our vision is to ensure cancer patients receive the care they need while minimizing their financial stress.
The Wichita Cancer Foundation came to fruition when Dr. Dakhil partnered with his attorney daughter, Laura Monahan. With Laura’s corporate law background and Dr. Dakhil’s unmatched knowledge of the oncology world, they believed they could combine their expertise to make a true difference. The two sat down to discuss their vision for the organization, and by the end of that meeting, they had a detailed plan to make it happen. The two quickly recruited a founding Board of Directors, consisting of 13 community leaders.
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Allison joined the Wichita Cancer Foundation in March 2022, originally serving as the organization’s first Program and Operations Coordinator. In October 2025, she transitioned into the role of Executive Director, where she remains committed to furthering WCF’s mission with compassion and care. She was born and raised in Wichita and graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in business management. Before joining WCF, Allison spent several years working with Young Life Capernaum, a non-profit organization that assists those with intellectual disabilities. This experience fueled her love for non-profit work, as well as being involved in the community and making a difference.
Outside of work, Allison enjoys going on walks with her husband, reading, playing board games with friends, and volunteering at her church.
Alicia joined the Wichita Cancer Foundation team in November 2025 as the Program and Operations Coordinator. Originally from Lyons, Kansas, she is a recent graduate of Wichita State University with a degree in political science.
Her passion for serving others is deeply personal; after her mother’s battle with stage 3 breast cancer, now in remission, she witnessed firsthand how a cancer diagnosis can impact families both emotionally and financially. That experience, combined with her love of community involvement, inspired her to join WCF and support its mission to ease the burden for local cancer patients.
In addition to her role, Alicia is actively involved with Young Life College, where she mentors college students and builds meaningful relationships that encourage and foster faith. When she’s not working or volunteering, she enjoys spending time with friends, playing the piano, cooking, baking sourdough bread, staying active, and serving at her church.
The Wichita Cancer Foundation Care Committee is comprised of four or more independent volunteers who review applications on behalf of the organization. The committee determines which patients will receive insurance premium assistance and the duration of the assistance.
(left to right, back row): George Laham, Patricia Hourani, Christopher Arellano, Laura Dakhil Monahan, Dana Hensley, Stephanie Bergmann, David Murfin
(left to right, front row): Dr. Aziz Maksoud, Dr. Shaker Dakhil (Co-Founder), Ziad Jabara, Steve Peterson
Not pictured: Dr. Hana Razek, Dr. Sam Kouri, Don Henry
Dr. Shaker Dakhil, an oncologist for almost four decades in Wichita, Kansas, had a dream to lessen the financial burden imposed on cancer patients after seeing countless patients lose their insurance when they needed it the most. Thus, he founded and organized the Wichita Cancer Foundation in 2005.
The Wichita Cancer Foundation came to fruition when Dr. Dakhil partnered with his attorney daughter, Laura Monahan. With Laura’s corporate law background and Dr. Dakhil’s unmatched knowledge of the oncology world, they believed they could combine their expertise to make a true difference. The two sat down to discuss their vision for the organization, and by the end of that meeting, they had a detailed plan to make it happen. The two quickly recruited a founding Board of Directors, consisting of 13 community leaders.
The Board of Directors launched the Wichita Cancer Foundation publicly in 2015 and started accepting applications to assist local patients in need. For the next five years, the foundation was able to help 50 patients whose care was initiated or received in Sedgwick County each year.
In 2017, the Wichita Cancer Foundation announced the addition of an Advisory Board, a group of community volunteers providing support, knowledge, and advice to our Board of Directors. This growth propelled the Wichita Cancer Foundation to hire its first Executive Director in 2018. By 2019, the organization announced it would assist patients whose care is initiated or received throughout the state of Kansas.
In 2020, WCF welcomed its current Executive Director. Ascension donated office space at 1035 N Emporia in early 2021. This space allows us to serve applicants and recipients and engage with volunteers.
In March 2021, Wichita Cancer Foundation added the role of Program and Operations Assistant to the staff. In 2024, WCF helped a record number of Kansans from 38 counties. 2025 marks the 10th anniversay of the Wichita Cancer Foundation’s assistance program.
If you have unanswered questions about the Wichita Cancer Foundation, please contact us online or call us at (316) 928-2273. We look forward to speaking with you!
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