Paint it Pink – Breast Cancer awareness program
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
September 19, 2012
This year Paint It Pink is bigger than ever before. Every week in October is jam packed with activities to educate the public about breast health and breast cancer and to raise money for the Paint It Pink Free Mammography Program.
In the United States alone, The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2012 approximately 226,870 women and 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 39,510 women and 410 men will die Although these numbers are frightening, research shows that the mortality rate could decrease by 30% if all women age 50 and older who needed a mammogram had one.
Paint It Pink (PIP) is a free mammography program for women and men sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, Glacier Bank, and Northwest Imaging, and additional event and fundraising sponsoring businesses. Paint It Pink Mammograms are available to all uninsured women who live in zip codes 59923 or 59935, and do not qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or any other discounted mammography programs.
The PIP Program and fundraising effort began in 2007 while the hospital Foundation was raising dollars to purchase Digital Mammography equipment. The fundraising activities for the equipment were so successful that a committee was formed to switch the fundraising focus from equipment to community, and a free mammography program was born. Since, 2007, the PIP program has raised $20,650 and has expanded to help 120 area women receive mammograms.
The fundraising for Paint It Pink only happens during the month of October which is Breast Health Awareness Month. Lincoln County will celebrate with fun-runs, desserts, seminars, workshops, parties, and special promotional offers. For a complete schedule of events, go to www.sjlh.com and click on the upcoming events button on the right side of the screen.
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By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
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