Luncheon Raises Money in Pierce County

TACOMA (October 4, 2012) – Over 650 participants gathered at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center in the fight to end breast cancer.  The program, hosted by KING 5 News Anchor Jean Enersen, featured a prominent breast cancer researcher from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Laressa Korde, MD, MPH, who is the Director of the Prevention Center, Shared Resources.  She is also an Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology with the University of Washington.  Dr. Korde was joined on-stage by Agueda Fernandez-Webster, a Latina Breast Health Navigator with the Franciscan Foundation, and Rebecca Seago-Coyle, a South Puget Sound breast cancer survivor.

With the help of the Lunch for the Cure, last year Komen Puget Sound invested over $315,000 into Pierce County grants. These grants provided:

• 211 breast health education presentations to educate 4,664 people.
• 1,296 lifesaving free mammograms to low income and uninsured women. Breast cancer was detected in 20 of these women.
• 115 subsidies for low income women, an average $417 each, to ensure they could pay for food, shelter and utilities while undergoing breast cancer treatments.
• 50 women with one-on-one personal assistance from patient navigators, ensuring they receive timely and effective breast cancer screening and treatment.

Tacoma breast cancer survivor Belinda Johnson said patient support from the Komen Puget Sound Patient Assistance Fund couldn’t have come at a better time after her breast cancer surgery in January. “I had been off of work, snowed in, and didn’t have a lot of food,” said Johnson.  “Being able to pay my rent and for groceries was very important.  Every day it’s my goal to stay positive, but making ends meet on a fixed income on disability is tough.”

Cheryl Shaw, Executive Director of Komen Puget Sound is thankful to see local supporters returning to the organization, but the need for free or low cost breast cancer support continues to grow.  “Women between the ages of 40 and 64 years old are at the greatest risk of getting breast cancer, yet 24-percent of these local women don’t have health insurance,” said Shaw.  “These women often live in underserved areas and are low-income. They need our support today.”  Donations collected at the Lunch for the Cure this year will help fund grants to Pierce County organizations in 2013.