WEST PLAINS, MO – To support its fundraising initiative for a mobile mammography unit, the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation will host a mum sale on Friday, Oct. 8, from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, #12 Parkway Center in West Plains. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Foundation’s initiative to purchase a mobile mammography unit in 2022 to help make routine screenings more accessible for women who might not otherwise have access to this service.
On Saturday, pumpkins will also be available for children in attendance to paint for patients hospitalized at Ozarks Healthcare.
“October not only represents a new season; it also recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate our community on the impacts of breast cancer and to honor those who have lost their lives to this disease,” Josh Reeves, Vice President of Development at Ozarks Healthcare, said. “We hope our mum sale is a great way for our community to celebrate the beauty of a new season while giving back to a worthy cause that can help improve the quality of health for our entire region.”
All community members are welcome to attend the mum sale.
The Ozarks Healthcare Foundation is seeking pledges and donations from individuals, businesses, and other organizations. Any business or organization interested in making a donation is asked to please call the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation at 417-853-5200 or contact Reeves directly at j.reeves@ozhcare.com. Individual donations can be collected online at https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/support-us/foundation/mobile-mammography-unit-campaign/.
The Ozarks Healthcare Foundation is also raffling a 2021 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Truck from Toyota of West Plains. Proceeds from raffle tickets sold will benefit the Foundation’s fundraising campaign for the mobile mammography unit. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased online at www.ozarkshealthcare.com or by calling the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation at 417-853-5200. The raffle winner will be drawn Dec. 24. Tickets are limited, so those interested in purchasing a ticket are encouraged to buy soon.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. (some kinds of skin cancer are the most common). Finding breast cancer early reduces risk of death from the disease by 25-30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they’re at high risk. Annual mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most curable stages. Many women put off getting a mammogram due to inconvenience. Studies also show women who are underinsured or uninsured are 35 percent more likely to have a mammogram offered by a mobile mammography unit versus going to an outpatient setting.
The Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, established in 1998 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) with a local board of directors, serves as a liaison between donors and Ozarks Healthcare to assist the hospital in providing excellent healthcare to the communities it serves. For more information or to make a gift to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation, please call 417-853-5200 or visit https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/support-us/foundation/.
