(FAR HILLS, NJ) -- The Far Hills Race Meeting Association (FHRMA), home of the country's most prestigious steeplechase horse race, has announced a significant $1.25 million financial commitment to the Steeplechase Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital.
The gift to Somerset Health Care Foundation, the hospital's fundraising arm, will be used to help grow the center’s Far Hills Race Meeting Association Oncology Patient Assistance Fund which provides vital support to cancer patients, particularly those facing financial hardships. The fund was established in 2018 and was renamed in the association’s honor earlier this year.
For more than 75 years, the FHRMA has been committed to supporting healthcare, and through proceeds raised following its annual steeplechase horse race held every October, has contributed more than $22 million to help RWJUH Somerset deliver the highest level of care to the patients it serves across the county and the region. RWJUH Somerset together with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides patients access to the most advanced treatment options including clinical trials. The hospital’s state-of-the-art Steeplechase Cancer Center as well as its Behavioral Health Unit were named in recognition of the association’s ongoing generosity.
“With the rise of cancer diagnoses expected to continue, RWJUH Somerset’s role in delivering the highest level of care and ensuring patients have access to cutting-edge treatment will be critical,” said Ron Kennedy, Chairman of the Far Hills Race Meeting Association. “We will continue to stand beside their team as they make substantial investments in technology and care available on campus at the Steeplechase Cancer Center and are proud to also increase our financial support of a program that’s near and dear to our hearts – the FHRMA Oncology Patient Assistance Fund. Over the next six years, we are committing an additional $1.25 million to the growth of the program, which delivers assistance to patients with financial difficulties, so that they can focus on what’s most important - fighting their cancer with dignity and grace.”
Since 2018, the FHRMA has been instrumental in the growth of the FHRMA Oncology Patient Assistance Fund, donating nearly $700,000 specifically to the Fund to provide vital support to cancer patients, particularly those facing financial hardships. Too often, patients must choose between covering the items often not covered by insurance —such as mastectomy supplies, wigs, prostheses, and lymphedema sleeves—or prioritizing their family’s financial stability. The association’s new $1.25 million commitment will be transformational, ensuring the sustainability of the Fund for the future so that every patient at the Steeplechase Cancer Center, no matter their financial standing, receives comprehensive care across their full recovery journey.
“Words cannot express the magnitude of their generosity or impact that the Far Hills Race Meeting Association has had on our ability to elevate the care we’re able to provide our patients here at RWJUH Somerset,” said Deirdre Blaus, chief administrative officer, RWJUH Somerset. “We’re focused on the future, and creating a destination for care that marries the personalized patient care we’re known for with some of the most advanced, state-of-the-art and treatment options available today. This $1.25 million commitment to help grow the FHRMA Oncology Patient Assistance Fund goes beyond just philanthropy – this hallmark cements a legacy of giving back to the community. It’s a testament to the association’s compassion and dedication to improving healthcare with tangible results that can be seen with every patient we serve.”
Often overlooked during cancer treatment is access to transportation and the myriad of costs that are associated with it. Whether it be costs patients face, such as gas, parking, or tolls, or fares for public transportation or ride shares, getting to and from treatment should never be a variable for any cancer patient. Through the FHRMA Oncology Patient Assistance Fund, transportation insecurity is removed from the equation for those in need and never considered a roadblock to recovery. An average of 1,500 rides each year are provided for cancer patients through the Fund. The Fund also encompasses other intangible facets of recovery, including providing financial assistance to cover living expenses, such as groceries, the filling of medications, and more.
The 104th running of the Far Hills Race Meeting, sponsored by Open Road Auto Group, will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Since its inception, it has raised over $22 million for local healthcare to date, and will support five worthy beneficiaries in 2025, including RWJUH Somerset, Crossroads4Hope, Community in Crisis, LifeCamp and Bonnie Brae.
For tickets, details and more, visit www.farhillsrace.org or call (888) 516-5554. Stay up to date on Race Day by signing up for the email list or following on Facebook or Instagram.
The Far Hills Race Meeting, a 104-year-old premier social and sporting event in New Jersey, attracts diverse spectators year after year. It showcases the world's finest steeplechase races, fosters connections with loved ones, supports worthy causes, and creates cherished memories. Sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, Inc., the event offers the largest purses for Steeplechase races in the United States, pari-mutuel wagering in partnership with Monmouth Park, global live streaming and “America’s Day at the Races” is aired on Fox Sports in partnership with NYRA and Monmouth Park.
Located in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital, is a nationally accredited, 343-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive emergency, medical/surgical, behavioral health and rehabilitative services to central New Jersey residents. As a designated teaching hospital of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the hospital maintains a family medicine residency program with 21 residents.
RWJUH Somerset has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety including the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence.
The Steeplechase Cancer Center at RWJUH Somerset is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. RWJBarnabas Health and RWJUH Somerset together with Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – provide access to the most advanced treatment options including clinical trials, cellular therapies, and precision medicine, close to home.
