The Central and Northern Arizona Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded a $149,992 grant to North Country HealthCare for diagnostic and treatment services for women diagnosed either through the Well Woman HealthCheck Program or referred by partners in our community.
At North Country HealthCare, the grant from Komen CAN Arizona will support the Well Woman HealthCheck Program, an initiative to assist uninsured and underinsured women in providing affordable diagnostic and treatment for breast cancer.
“We are so fortunate to have this resource in our community,” says Elizabeth Markona, HealthCheck Programs Manager. “Breast cancer treatment is even more of a financial stress during these difficult economic times since it often requires time away from work. Komen funds help reduce this financial burden on the patient. Also, our program has partnered with medical providers in the community to help spread these funds even further.”
In April, Komen CAN Arizona gave more than $1.5 million to fund breast cancer screening, education, treatment and research. More than $1.2 million will fund 15 community grants throughout central and northern Arizona, while more than $450,000 will go toward national research efforts. Since its inception in 1993, Komen CAN Arizona has granted more than $24.2 million – making it the largest private grantor of community breast cancer funds in Arizona.
The community grants program helps Komen CAN Arizona to carry out its mission of saving lives and ending breast cancer forever by partnering with nonprofit organizations throughout medically underserved communities to fill in the critical gaps of service.
“Part of delivering our promise is working day to day with our community partners to ensure that the women in our community do not go without vital screening and treatment services while we navigate the changing healthcare landscape, both locally and nationwide,” said Beverly Kruse, executive director for Komen CAN Arizona. “Collaboration is key to reaching our goal, and we’re fortunate to work with so many organizations whose missions align with ours.”
The Komen CAN Arizona community grants program is funded by money raised at the annual Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure held each October. Key to the Affiliate’s Race fundraising efforts is sponsor support, which allows Komen’s dollars to go even farther. Komen CAN Arizona is grateful to welcome back Fry’s Food Stores as its VIP Partner for the 2013 Race.
The Well Woman HealthCheck Program, based out of North Country HealthCare, provides free mammography and Pap testing to qualifying women. Free or low cost breast and cervical cancer diagnostic testing is also available. Additionally, if a woman is diagnosed with cancer through the program, we can link her to free or reduced-cost treatment services.
The “Patient Care Cost Assistance Project” of Northern Arizona, funded by Komen Central and Northern Arizona, provides financial assistance for breast cancer diagnoses and treatment. This project provides a safety net for underserved populations in Coconino, Navajo, Mohave, Yavapai and Apache Counties including Hispanic, Native American, uninsured and under-insured individuals. This program links women to timely, affordable care and established a treatment network of providers accepting reduced rates.
For more information on the Well Woman HealthCheck Program at North Country HealthCare, please call 928-213-6104. For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org, or the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov.
About Komen CAN Arizona
The Central and Northern Arizona Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the current Affiliate of the Year, and one of more than 120 Affiliates around the world dedicated to combating breast cancer at every front. Its service area encompasses all of central and northern Arizona, including Apache, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal and Yavapai counties. Through events like the Susan G. Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure®, the Affiliate has invested more than $24.2 million in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in central and northern Arizona, and breast cancer research. Join us by calling 602-544-CURE (2873) or visiting us online at www.KomenCANaz.org.