Mahaska Health Partnership to host Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership has scheduled the eighth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk for Friday, Oct. 5 on the Square in Oskaloosa.
MHP Director of Radiology Julie Hartke explained that the walk is held from Noon to 1:00 pm. “We hold the walk on the Square during the noon hour because many people will be heading to lunch. We hope seeing the flags in the park and the people walking will prompt them to ask questions about breast cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 2,000 women in the state of Iowa will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. “That is a large number, however; the disease continues to be caught earlier and treatments have advanced considerably,” Hartke explained. “Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we use it as an opportunity to bring attention to the cause locally.”
MHP’s efforts to raise awareness for breast cancer don’t stop with the walk. They will again be hosting their Free Women’s Breast Health Night, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16. “More details will be available in the coming weeks, but we’re excited to be featuring our OB/GYN Specialist Dr. Jeffrey Fowler,” Hartke said.
“We’ve seen the community’s involvement continue to grow each year and it’s been great,” Hartke stressed. “Many businesses have participated in Jeans Days and others have held fundraisers of their own. The more people helping raise awareness the better.”
Businesses are encouraged to host a Jeans Day sometime during the month of October. Employees pay $5 to wear jeans to work with a special breast cancer awareness sticker, provided by MHP. For more information about hosting a Jeans Day, call 641-672-3369.
Registration is required for both the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Free Women’s Breast Health Night. The deadline to register for the walk is Wednesday, Sept. 19. To register, visit mahaskahealth.org or call 672-3369 to have a registration form mailed to you.
“All of the proceeds raised from our breast cancer awareness activities are donated to the Southeast Iowa affiliate of Susan G. Komen Breast for the Cure. We receive a generous grant annually to fund mammograms for people in our community who can’t afford them; this is our way of giving back,” Hartke shared.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
