2025 iHelp Charitable Trust Hope Fund now accepting applications

The iHelp Charitable Trust (Hope Fund) was established in 2017 with approval from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and is held in trust by Cathay United Bank, operating under its public-benefit charter. The fund is dedicated to helping patients with cancer, rare diseases, and catastrophic illnesses face their treatment challenges, get through hard times, and regain hope for life. Funded by donations from caring companies, organizations, and individuals, every dollar goes toward supporting patients in completing treatment and returning to normal life, so that love and hope keep flowing through adversity.

Emergency relief to help patients through hard times

Applications currently come mainly through clinical referrals from physicians or nurses who work with PatientsForce. Eligible patients can apply to the fund for emergency relief grants to ease their medical burden and let them focus on treatment and recovery. Over the past seven years, we have found that many patients, for various special reasons, cannot obtain a government-issued low- or middle-low-income certificate and thus miss out on social assistance resources. In response, the fund relaxed its application requirements this year: applicants who cannot provide a low- or middle-low-income certificate may instead submit an "income declaration" signed by medical or care staff. We hope this change will bring real help to more patients in difficult circumstances and restore their hope for life.

Real stories, testimony to hope

The iHelp Charitable Trust has helped nearly one hundred patients facing illness. With the fund's support, their financial pressure eased and they could undergo treatment with peace of mind.

Case study

Applicant: Mr. Chen, 59, living with Fabry disease combined with psychiatric illness, physical disability, and multiple other conditions, receiving care at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital. Referred for assistance by his clinical care team.
Treatment status: Mr. Chen requires treatment every two weeks and resides in a senior care facility at a monthly out-of-pocket cost of NT$3,000. He must cover caregiver fees, daily necessities, and medical consumables, yet has no guardian to assist him in daily life.
Reason for application: As a low-income household member with no guardian to provide adequate care, Mr. Chen urgently needed funds for medical expenses during ongoing treatment.
Family situation: Mr. Chen is from a low-income household. One of his brothers also has a rare disease; he is cared for mainly by an elder brother who works as a manual laborer.
Review outcome: Emergency relief was approved. Since no legal guardian was available to assist during treatment, the application was made with the help of his primary medical caregiver.