Health Beat - Winter 2017 - 14

IN THE COMMUNITY

Race Supports Local Women
Battling Breast Cancer
More than 600 participate in third annual Fe for a Cure 5K
By John Berggren

ational statistics show one
in eight women is diagnosed
with breast cancer at some
point in her life. That means
someone you know might need the
Tammy Walker Cancer Center for help
facing this dreaded disease.
More than 600 runners and
walkers turned out to support local
women undergoing treatment at the
third annual Fe for a Cure 5K race/
walk down Santa Fe Avenue on
Oct. 1 in Salina. Proceeds support local
awareness, education and state-of-theart treatment at the Tammy Walker
Cancer Center.
The event is sponsored by Salina
Regional Health Center, St. John's
Military School, Kansas Wesleyan
University, North Salina Community
Development, Alpha Media and Salina
Downton, Inc. Salina Supply Co. was a
gold medal underwriter for the event.

Inspiration to Patients
"This event gives a lot of patients
hope," says Melanie Leepers, cancer
program manager at the Tammy Walker
Cancer Center. "They see so many
women in pink who are breast cancer
survivors participating in this event and
so many others in support of them.
"It gives the patients confidence
that they can conquer this disease, and
several undergoing treatment in years
past have made it a goal to participate
in future events as a survivor."
This year's honorary spokeswoman
for the event was Stephanie Barr of
rural Solomon, who was diagnosed with
breast cancer at age 30. Her message
to participants prior to the start of
the race detailed the turmoil women

Breast cancer survivors took an honorary lap around the grounds at St. John's
Military School prior to the start of the Fe for a Cure 5K on Oct. 1.

face when learning they have a breast
cancer diagnosis and the reassurance
women find in turning to the Cancer
Center for help.
"We have amazing cancer services
and support for patients in Salina at
the Tammy Walker Cancer Center,"
Barr says. "Staff members are dedicated to meeting your every need.
We have access to many leading-edge
treatments. There is support through
every step of the journey that a cancer
diagnosis brings."

Impact to Patient Care
Breast cancer services that use donor
support include: the Appearance
Center where wigs, scarves, hats and

makeup are given to patients free of
charge; the Patient Emergency
Assistance Fund, which is accessible
to patients in dire need of financial
support; Midwest Cancer Alliance
annual membership, which links the
Tammy Walker Cancer Center to the
University of Kansas Cancer Center;
and free patient transportation.
"This has sort of become a
rallying event for breast cancer in
our community," says Tom Martin,
executive director of the Salina
Regional Health Foundation.
"Our participants feel a sense of
accomplishment for completing the
3.1-mile course and supporting breast
cancer patients at the same time." 1

WATCH for details about next year's Fe for a Cure 5K on Salina Regional's Facebook page or at feforacure.com

http://www.feforacure.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Beat - Winter 2017