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For immediate release:  November 13 , 2007

Event raises funds for 100 mammograms
 
More than 100 men, women and children braved brisk and frigid breezes Saturday morning to raise funds to provide mammograms for uninsured women.

Nearly $10,00 was raised by the Power of Pink relay, 5K and fun walk, which will provide free mammograms for at least 100 women who cannot afford them, said Robin Tindall-Taylor, director of the Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation.

HRMC President David Rice said cancer is a great concern for him. His mother, Hilda Rice, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 44 and died five years later. He also recently learned that a cousin was diagnosed with cancer.

“Cancer cheated me out of time with my mother. Research and treatment have come a long way since my mother was diagnosed with cancer, but it is very important to keep this in the forefront,” said Rice, who bravely wore pink trousers to Saturday’s Power of Pink event.

“This event was a great opportunity to involve the community and address a real need,” said Haywood County Health Director Carmine Rocco.

One in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 50 women die from the disease each year, Rocco said. Those odds can be altered with early diagnosis, he said.

“I’m thrilled that so many people care. Breast cancer affects more people than we realize,” said cancer survivor Allison Best-Teague, who knows first-hand the nightmare of being uninsured and needing a mammogram. Because of a history of cancer earlier in her life, Best-Teague was unable to have insurance at the time she discovered a symptom of breast cancer. Her family physician referred her to the Haywood County Health Department, which had acquired a grant providing mammograms for uninsured women in her age group.

“There are women who do not get an annual mammogram because they can not afford it. But, the frustrating thing is a lot of women who are fortunate enough to have insurance and who can afford to pay for a mammogram who don’t bother to get one,” Best-Teague said.

In the past, the health department received state funding from the Breast Cancer Control program to provide free cancer screening mammograms to women in the 50- to 64-year-old age group. Funds raised Saturday will allow the health department to continue offering mammograms to that age group, as well as expanding the program to younger women in their 30s and 40s, said Marcia Tate, health educator for the Haywood County Health Department.

Several information booths were set up in the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center gymnasium during the Power of Pink event, including the American Cancer Society booth. The American Cancer Society offers three programs for cancer victims and survivors — Look Good, Feel Better, Reach to Recovery and TLC, which provides services such as wigs for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. The agency also is working with Haywood Regional Medical Center to provide a room at the hospital for cancer patients, said Amy Hendricks, American Cancer Society director.

Dr. Michael Heller, an oncologist at Carolina Cancer Specialists in Clyde, and his staff also had a booth at the event.

“This has been a fun way to increase awareness about the burden of breast cancer among the female population,” Heller said. “This health fair demonstrates that, in addition to the need for mammograms and self-examinations, Haywood County can support women’s health services from prevention through treatment and survivorship.”

The Fletcher Pink Ladies won the Pink Relay.

“This is the first time we have run as a group. We had no idea we would win,” said team member Melinda Lemmons. “We wanted to be a part of this event because we have friends who have breast cancer,” she said. Other members of the team were Rebecca Mayernick, captain; Missy Reinke, Kimberly Sweetland and Jennifer Hensley.

Brad Dodson of Mud Dabbers Pottery in Waynesville, who was one of several participants in the event, created the Power of Pink award plates for the top finishers. Dodson was the top male master runner in the 5K, with a time of 18:48. Elizabeth Goodman of Leicester was the top female master runner, with a time of 32:12.

Hector Sanchez of Asheville was the overall male winner in the Real Men Wear Pink 5K race, with a time of 18:36 in the 30- to 34-year-old division. Jessica Goodman of Leicester was the overall female winner, with a time of 22:53 in the 16- to 18-year-old division.

Other top finishers by age division included:

Male — 15 and younger, Luke Christy of Cullowhee, 22:11; 19 to 24, Kyle Clayton of Cullowhee, 32:28; 25 to 29, Anthony Hugg of Asheville, 22:16; 35 to 39, Steve Wampler of Maggie Valley, 26:13; 40 to 44, Jay Dale of Swannanoa, 22:52; 50 to 54, Casey Camp of Waynesville, 22:17; 55 to 59, Dietrich Fabricius of Hendersonville, 22:31; 60 to 64, Roger Winchell of Asheville, 31:09; 65 to 69, Larry Fincher of Waynesville, 35:07; 70 and older, Charles Dotson of Lake Junaluska, 29:07.

Female — 15 and younger, Taylor Montgomery of Fairview, 26:38; 19 to 24, Emily Fama of Waynesville, 44:04; 25 to 29, Adana Littledave of Cherokee, 27:45; 30 to 34, Beach Hensley of Asheville, 22:19; 35 to 39, Melanie Sardella of Waynesville, 27:34; 40 to 44, Susan Youse of Lake Junaluska, 27:13; 45 to 49, Michelle Westhusing of Asheville, 25:44; 55 to 59, Marcia Tate of Canton, 26:05; 60 to 64, Louise Johnson of Waynesville, 33:24.

The Fletcher Pink Ladies won the Pink Relay during the Power of Pink event Saturday. Members of the team include, from left, Jennifer Hensley, Melinda Lemmons, Kimberly Sweetland, Missy Reinke and Rebecca Mayernick.

Runners begin the 5K race.

Runners begin the relay

Hector Sanchez of Canton and Jessica Goodman of Leicester were the top overall finishers in the Real Men Wear Pink 5K race.