Komen Virginia Blue Ridge surpasses $2 million given in grants

Lynda McConnell shared her story about breast cancer and treatment. (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) –  This year Komen Virginia Blue Ridge is awarding $291,000. At the 3rd annual Circle of Hope breakfast Tuesday morning, area organizations were presented checks. With the grants awarded Tuesday, the local Komen affiliate surpasses the $2 million mark in funding for breast cancer education, screening and diagnostic mammograms and treatment in the 31 city/county region. This fiscal year, also marks more than $700,000 given to the Susan G. Komen Research Program.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

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Here locally in the Virginia Blue Ridge affiliate of Komen covering 31 cities and counties the numbers show every week:

  • 16 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, 6 of those women will be diagnosed at late stage with state 4 cancer
  • 3 women will die
With the grants awarded in 2016, the local Komen affiliate surpasses the $2 million mark in funding for breast cancer education, screening and diagnostic mammograms and treatment in the 31 city/county region.

"We are above average and we have more cases than normal and there are a lot of reasons for that. We are in a very rural area, there are a lot of barriers to health care so people aren't getting their screening mammograms so that's why we see you late," said Catherine Turner, Executive Director.

Komen Virginia Blue Ridge will award the money raised over the past year to local groups for screenings and diagnostic mammograms in areas like Martinsville, Danville, Roanoke and Lynchburg.

The following groups received money:

  • Carilion Clinic Breast Care Center: $45,646 to promote the importance of early detection and increase the number of residents (especially African American and Hispanic individuals) who receive breast cancer screenings
  • Centra - Pearson Cancer Center: $62,18 to bring the Komen breast health message to more than 2,500 residents through community outreach in Lynchburg and surrounding areas
  • Free Clinic of Danville: $67,861 to provide breast health services but will also use partnerships with Danville Regional Medical Center and the University of Virginia Hospital to ensure that patients remain in the breast health continuum of care
  • Martinsville-Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness: $50,687 to enhance local breast health education and services as well as to expand their community outreach into Patrick County where no mammography facilities exist
  • Virginia Department of Health, Mt. Rogers District: $64,626 to increase the number of women who receive breast cancer screenings in the counties of Wythe, Bland, Carroll and Grayson, and the city of Galax with emphasis on women who are never or rarely screened
  • Susan G. Komen Research Program: $123,000. Komen has invested $889 million in breast cancer research through over 2,400 research grants in 49 states and 20 countries, 460 clinical trials, 300 research advocates, 60 partnerships and collaborations, and 60 scientific conferences.  The Virginia Blue Ridge Affiliate is proud to dedicate 25% of net proceeds to the Research Program each year

About the Author:

You can see Jenna weekday mornings at the anchor desk on WSLS 10 Today from 5-7 a.m. She also leads our monthly Solutionaries Series, where we highlight the creative thinkers and doers working to make the world a better place.