Avera’s Walking Forward Program Receives $200,000 Donation From Hansen Foundation

Walking Forward has received $200,000 in grant funding over the next two years from the Irving A. Hansen Memorial Foundation to help improve health outcomes and quality of life in American Indian communities in South Dakota.

The donation adds to $250,000 in funding the Hansen Foundation has already provided to promote, educate about and facilitate opportunities for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening through community navigators in the Rapid City, Rosebud and Pine Ridge communities.

“The generosity of the Irving A. Hansen Memorial Foundation’s gift will help many patients who do not have insurance, and will assist with the access for American Indian patients,” said Daniel Petereit, MD, FASTRO, radiation oncologist at Monument Health – John T. Vucurevich Cancer Care Institute and developer of Walking Forward. “American Indians who are at risk for lung cancer can continue to get this important screening to catch lung cancer in its earliest stages when it is most treatable. We are especially grateful for the funding that’s extended over two years, providing assurance that this program can continue to help people and save lives.”

Walking Forward, a community research program of the Avera Research Institute, provides tribal communities with access to a variety of cancer-related services including cancer education and screening, earlier diagnosis and access to clinical trials. Another key service is community navigation. Working in small groups or one on one, navigators can assist patients or families with questions on any aspect of cancer prevention or treatment.

Although it was challenging for community navigators to work with residents during COVID-19, they set up booths at outside farmers’ markets and small local public events, and met individuals and families in their homes or through online platforms. Walking Forward helped patients with logistics to obtain provider appointments and screening referrals for LDCT. Thanks to Hansen Foundation funds, 270 lung cancer screens have been provided to date.

 Having established American Indian patient navigators who work and live within the communities our program serves, allows us to work closely with community and tribal programs to better assist our patients. “We use every channel we can to help anyone who needs help. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death for South Dakota American Indians, but we want to tell a new story, one where these numbers change,” said Petereit

“Low-dose CT through the Irving A. Hansen Memorial Foundation funds has made the difference for heavy smokers in this region to receive lung cancer screenings that could potentially save their lives – or allow them to live longer, more productive lives,” Petereit said.