In honor of breast cancer awareness month, MercyOne Genesis and the MercyOne Genesis Health Services Foundation will host the 4th annual Gather for the Cure from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 19, at Scott County Park.
There will be a one-mile walk beginning at 11 a.m. with a presentation by a breast cancer survivor and the chance to purchase a breast cancer awareness ornament created by Isabel Bloom – the ”Pink Heals” Fire Truck, as well as a pink-themed selfie station, vendor stations and
creative art by Gilda’s Club of the Quad Cities. Refreshments will be available. Meet at the Whispering Pines Indoor Shelter.
At 11:55 a.m. there will be bubble blowing in memory of those we’ve lost and in honor of those fighting breast cancer. The event will conclude with final announcements and prize and raffle drawings.
Gather for the Cure is the primary fundraiser for the Genesis Voucher Program. Genesis has been administering the Voucher Program since 2001. It provides 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 its financial support to voucher programs in the Quad-Cities in 2021.
Genesis Voucher Program By The Numbers
- 153 individuals accessed the Voucher Program including 76 Iowa residents and 77 Illinois residents.
- 8 patients received multiple exams covered by the Voucher Program.
- 92 screening mammograms covered.
- 35 diagnostic mammograms covered.
- 28 Diagnostic breast ultrasounds covered.
- $26,830 paid out to cover breast health services.
Cost shouldn’t be 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.
“Supporting breast cancer screening means taking a stand for early detection, which is our greatest weapon against this disease,” said Jenny Kitsis, MercyOne Genesis women’s health grant specialist. “By encouraging regular screening, we give women the chance to catch breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable, and ultimately save lives.”
“Together, we can ensure that more women have access to the care and prevention they deserve,” she said in the Gather for the Cure news release.
According to the American Cancer Society, there were an estimated 3,010 new cases of female breast cancer in Iowa and 11,870 new cases in Illinois in 2024.
“Breast cancer statistics aren’t just numbers – they represent our mothers, sisters, friends, and loved ones. Behind every diagnosis is a person whose life can be saved through early detection and treatment,” said Ms. Kitsis.
For more information on the voucher program and Gather for the Cure, go to www.genesishealth.com/CBH.
