Astorg, iPacket boost Camden Clark Foundation’s Pink Mammogram Fund with $17K donation

PARKERSBURG -- The WVU Medicine Camden Clark Foundation received a gift from a couple of area businesses to be used to provide important mammograms to many in the community who otherwise would not be able to afford them.

The over $17,000 donations received from Astorg Auto and iPacket will directly benefit the Camden Clark Foundation's Pink Mammogram Fund which provides free screening mammograms, diagnostics and biopsies for local uninsured or underinsured patients.

Astorg Auto and iPacket provided $7,575 and $10,000, respectively, from vehicle and iPacket package sales throughout the month of October, said Camden Clark Foundation Executive Director Kim Couch.

"The money raised from this will be used to provide screening mammograms, diagnostics and biopsies for people in our community who are uninsured and would have no other access to this type of care," she said.

Since its establishment, the Pink Mammogram fund has funded more than 3,000 procedures for local patients.

Astorg has been raising money for the fund for nine years and iPacket has been contributing for three to four years.

"Cancer has affected everyone's family at some point and what we are supporting is an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," said Paul Astorg, CEO of Astorg Auto. "As we sold cars and software in October, so much of the money went to the Foundation in supporting that cause.

"I know cancer has affected our family so it is something we are passionate about to be able to put some money towards prevention. We hope this will help other families to catch something early so they will be able to deal with it."

He hopes others will be inspired to give something to support this cause.

"Hopefully the community will get behind this and others will see the need and also contribute," Astorg said.

Couch said when cost is a factor, without insurance or without enough insurance, then the price can be around over $400 annually.

"It is important that we reach out to the people in our community who are underserved, knock down those barriers and make sure they get in here to get their annual mammogram," Couch said.

There are no financial applications or residency requirements.

"It doesn't matter where you live in the Mid-Ohio Valley, if you are uninsured or underinsured with an order from you physician, call the Foundation and we will qualify you," Couch said adding they can see people who don't meet the age requirements of their insurance coverage, to people who have no insurance at all.

The Foundation can be reached at 304-424-2200.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com