Former KU Standout Mario Chalmers Opens Mario's Closet at Lawrence Memorial Hospital

July 24, 2011

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Former KU men’s basketball standout Mario Chalmers, with his parents and sister by his side, opened Mario’s Closet Friday, July 22, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

The Mario V. Chalmers Foundation last year made a $25,000 contribution to establish the first Mario’s Closet — a specialty shop that offers wigs, prosthetics, skin care products and other accessories for patients at LMH. Since then the Chalmers family and LMH have worked with Lawrence businesses to design and build it; it is located just inside the Arkansas Street entrance and down the hall from the LMH Oncology Center.

“Mario’s Closet is a comforting place for cancer patients and survivors to restore their confidence, dignity and hope,” said Gene Meyer, President and CEO of LMH. “When Mario came to us and said he wanted to open the first Mario’s Closet here, we were thrilled. We pride ourselves in treating the whole patient at LMH — their physical and emotional needs. Mario’s Closet will be a wonderful complement to the medical care we give all of our patients, particularly those in the LMH Oncology Center.
“Mario’s Closet is partnering with area businesses to provide durable medical equipment that people may need when facing various medical issues,” Meyer continued. “There will also be products specifically for pediatric patients.”

The LMH Oncology Center was opened in 2001 with $118,000 in community donations that were raised through the LMH Endowment Association’s Hearts of Gold Ball.