'Gather For The Cure' Marks The First Step Of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
WHO: Gather For The Cure
WHEN: 9:30 am to 12 pm, Saturday, October 14.
WHERE: Scott County Park, Whispering Pines Indoor Shelter
WHAT: Genesis Health System and the Genesis Health Services Foundation will kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the 3rd Annual Gather for the Cure.
Highlights:
One-mile walk beginning at 11:00 am
Presentation by a breast cancer survivor
"Pink Heals" Fire Truck
Pink-themed selfie station
Vendor stations
Creative art by Gilda's Club
Refreshments will be available
11:55 am: Bubble blowing in memory of those we've lost and in honor of those fighting breast cancer. Final announcements, and prize drawings
Background:
The event is an opportunity to celebrate breast cancer survivorship, remember those lives lost to breast cancer, and learn about available programs and resources. Gather for the Cure is the primary fundraiser for the Genesis Voucher Program. Genesis has been administering the Voucher Program since 2001, providing no-cost mammograms and ultrasounds in a timely and efficient manner to qualifying patients.
The fundraiser will help fill the funding gap created when the Susan G. Komen organization ended financial support to voucher programs in the Quad-Cities region in 2021.
Voucher Program By The Numbers
186 Individuals Accessed The Voucher Program
76 Iowa Residents, 110 Illinois Residents
38 Patients Received Multiple Exams Covered By The Voucher Program
110 Screening Mammograms Covered
53 Diagnostic Mammograms Covered
50 Diagnostic Breast Ultrasounds Covered
$34,560 Paid Out To Cover Breast Health Services
Cost Should Never Be A Barrier
Because cost should never be a barrier to accessing essential life-saving breast imaging, the Genesis Foundation is committed to raising funds needed to meet the demand – an estimated $50,000 annually.
"Either directly or indirectly, everyone in our community has been affected by breast cancer," said Diane Koster, Genesis Women's Health Grant Program Specialist. "This event helps us build support in our community to fight breast cancer with the hope that in the future, we will never lose anyone again to this disease."
According to the American Cancer Society, there were an estimated 2,810 new cases of female breast cancer in Iowa and 11,530 new cases of female breast cancer in Illinois in 2022.
"These are not just statistics. These are real people. Your mother, sister, daughter, friend," said Koster. "Together, we can impact these numbers and decrease deaths from breast cancer by supporting the Voucher Program."
For more information on the voucher program, go to www.genesishealth.com/CBH.
In addition to funds raised through Gather for the Cure, the Voucher Program receives support through financial gifts to the Genesis Kenneth H. McKay M.D. Center for Breast Health. All new and increased donations to the Center for Breast Health may qualify for a 1:1 match by the Foundation's Jim Victor Vision Fund.
For more information on Gather For The Cure, go to: www.genesishealth.com/gather
Contact On-Site:
Diane Koster
Genesis Women's Health Grant Program Specialist
Cell: 563-940-6030