Mary Allen Waller was 26 years old when she lost her mother to a cancerous brain tumor.  It was devastating, she says. Her mother was only 50.

“I’ve already lived so much longer than she ever did,” says Ms. Waller, board president of the Legal Information Network for Cancer, or LINC. 

Her mother’s death inspired Ms. Waller, director of business processes for Markel Corp., to volunteer her spare time providing critical legal and financial resources to cancer victims fighting for their lives. 

“My mother lived for three years” after her diagnosis, Ms. Waller says. “She was fortunate not to have those needs. Her husband was able to take care of her legal and financial worries.” 

But for many people battling cancer, they need help with non-medical needs, she says. LINC helps people with information, counseling and referrals to legal volunteers who can assist with such important needs as wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives and intercession with health insurance companies. The nonprofit agency also has volunteers who can provide financial guidance to cancer patients and their families.

Ms. Waller’s volunteer position in the top leadership role comes at a time when LINC is celebrating its 20th anniversary. During that time, the organization has helped scores of people throughout the Richmond area. Its network of lawyers and financial planners have provided legal and financial guidance free of charge to patients and their families, says Ms. Waller, which helps patients to focus on regaining their health.

Last year, Bristol-Myers Squibb released a new drug that is highly effective in treating melanoma. It costs $141,000 for the first 12 weeks of treatment and $256,000 for a year of treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, newly diagnosed cancer patients are responsible for the cost of drugs, radiation treatments, doctor visits, lab tests, imaging tests, hospital stays, surgery and home care. Insurance plans might not cover all of these costs.

LINC can help families navigate through the challenges.

Three years ago, LINC hired a full-time client services attorney that enabled the organization to help 534 individuals in that year alone. Also, having an in-house attorney and staff notary allowed LINC to help cancer patients in emergency, end-of-life situations with home visits to complete life planning documents so they could face death with peace of mind.

For about seven years, LINC has provided services onsite at the Massey Cancer Center at VCU Medical Center through its participation in the Medical-Legal Partnership that involves such partners as Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, the Legal Aid Justice Center and the University of Richmond School of Law.

Ms. Waller, who has served on the LINC board since June 2013, is optimistic that the organization can continue to touch those who need to expend their energy on living and not on financial or legal worries.

“I believe that access to justice is a basic human right, and that legal and financial planning worries negatively affect the health of a patient,” says Ms. Waller. In her role with LINC, she hopes to continue to “attract donor support and serve clients for at least another 20 years.” 

Meet this week’s Personality and advocate for cancer patients and their families, Mary Allen Waller:

Occupation: Accountant.

Place of birth: Lynchburg.

Current residence: Montpelier.

Alma maters: Salem College, bachelor of arts in economics and management, and Virginia Commonwealth University, master’s in business administration.

When I became a candidate for board chair: LINC board member since June 2013; board president since June 2015.

When LINC was founded: 1996. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary.

How LINC idea originated: Phyllis Katz and Ann Hodges, law professors at the University of Richmond who were cancer patients themselves, recognized a need for legal and financial guidance for cancer patients in the Metro Richmond area.

LINC’s mission: LINC eases the burden of cancer by providing assistance, education and referral to legal resources, financial guidance and community services.

Why is LINC necessary today: Everyone is in some way touched by cancer, but not everyone has the resources or access to the legal and financial guidance issues that often result from or are associated with a cancer diagnosis. Wills, powers of attorney and advanced medical directives are a few examples of legal issues that many are unfamiliar with.

Why I’m excited about LINC: Because it is a unique service that enables cancer patients to focus on their health and not their legal and financial planning issues. LINC helps relieve that stress and those worries by finding pro bono attorneys and financial advisers who can help solve these issues.

Most frequently requested LINC service: Wills, powers of attorney and advanced medical directives.

Number of LINC volunteers: 180-plus pro bono attorneys and financial planning advisers.

Who is eligible for LINC’s services: Financially disadvantaged cancer patients and their families.

LINC’s No. 1 project today: To create awareness about LINC and the services that we help provide.

How results will further the organization’s mission: Ensure sustainability.

Dream for LINC: A community where no cancer patient goes without needed support services.

Strategy for achieving it: Educate health care providers, social workers and other professionals who come in contact with cancer patients about the services that LINC provides.

How I got into accounting: By accident. I have recently transitioned to business process engineering.

Why I find it interesting: Accounting is a great mental puzzle and process engineering helps make the work fun.

Importance of accountants in finding solutions to today’s economy: If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.

How I start the day: What kind of fun can I create today?

Prized possession: Camera — film, not digital.

Nobody knows: I’m an aspiring Broadway singer with no talent.

How I unwind: Any outdoor activity that involves nature or foreign travel to outdoor places.

Best late-night snack: Any kind of pasta.

A perfect day: Active outdoor activity, grilled dinner and great red wine.

The one thing I can’t stand: Cynicism.

Person who influenced me the most: My grandmother.

Book that influenced me the most: Too many to list. I love to read.

Next goal: Increase the amount of my day that I spend serving others.