Saint Francis Medical Center has teamed up with Dig for Life, a program that provides free mammograms to local woman who cannot afford the exam, for the “Pink Up” movement throughout the month of October.
Southeast Missouri State University senior associate director for athletics Cindy Gannon founded Dig for Life in 2000 to honor her mother’s fight against breast cancer. Since then, the movement has provided over 2,500 women with free mammograms throughout the Southeast Missouri region.
Last year, the Pink Up movement raised enough money for 321 mammograms. Of the 321, seven resulted in a positive test for cancer, according to Jimmy Wilferth, executive director of the St. Francis Foundation.
“There’s a direct correlation between being able to afford a mammogram and detecting cancer early,” Wilferth said. “That’s something we get really passionate about and want to continue to do.”
Throughout the month, 132 local businesses and 45 schools will be participating in raising funds through events and selling “pink up” merchandise.
“There’s probably 50 different events that are taking place in the tri-state area, from sporting events, to luncheons, at high schools at churches, at businesses that are just Pinking Up,” Wilferth said.
Other organizations such as SoutheastHEALTH have teamed up with Cape Girardeau Police and Fire departments to host a month-long “Bravest Wear Pink” campaign.
One-hundred percent of the proceeds each organization makes will go toward providing free mammograms and helping fund cancer patients’ immediate needs while undergoing treatment.