A group of physicians, providers and leaders with the West Virginia University Cancer Institute at the Camden Clark Medical Center came together Thursday when Wincore President Brian Standley, center, presented a $13,135 check to Camden Clark Foundation Executive Director Kim Couch to support the Pink Mammogram Fund which provides mammogram screenings to uninsured patients. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — October will be Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Camden Clark Foundation has already gotten an early start on reminding women of the importance of regular checkups.

On Thursday, Wincore President Brian Standley presented a $13,135 check to the Foundation to support its Pink Mammogram Fund which provides mammogram screenings to uninsured patients.

“The fund provides free screening mammograms, diagnostics and even biopsies for people in our community who otherwise would not be able to afford it,” Camden Clark Foundation Executive Director Kim Couch said. “It is a great program and it helps provide care to many people who otherwise would not receive any care at all.

“It is absolutely free to the patient.”

Wincore has been supporting cancer-related charities for years, Standley said. Over the last couple of years the company has raised over $50,000 for organizations such as Stand Up To Cancer and the Make A Wish Foundation.

The Camden Clark Foundation’s annual Pink by Poolside event was held last Friday at the Parkersburg Country Club as a fundraiser for the Foundation’s Pink Mammogram Fund which provides mammogram screenings to uninsured patients. Over the last 12-13 years, the Foundation has done between 200-300 mammograms a year. (Photo Provided)

“Since WinCore’s founding we have been tied to cancer research and related charities,” he said of support the company has done, including an annual golf outing for the last 17 years. “We have supported various charities in that time that are all cancer related.”

It would cost many women over $500 out of pocket for a screening mammogram, Couch said, adding it costs the Foundation $100 each.

“Sometimes people just skip because it is just not doable for them,” she said.

Many will put it off for years and only finally come in when there is a problem. The goal of the Pink Mammogram Fund is to get in front of any potential problems and be able to treat them early.

“Preventative care is always best,” Couch said. “We have so many more options so the sooner we get a diagnosis and a treatment plan, the faster everyone can move forward.”

The Pink Mammogram Fund relies on local support to provide free screening mammograms, diagnostics and biopsies to people within the community who may be uninsured or can’t get access otherwise.

“We would not be able to do the depth of the services that we provide to our community without the help of businesses like Wincore,” Couch said. “We just started with free screening mammograms and have been able to increase all of the services we provide to many more people.”

Couch said people can inquire about and access these services throughout the year.

“It is a simple phone call and there is no financial application and there is no residency requirement,” she said. “Through the generosity of people like with Wincore, we were able to reach a lot of people who need us the most.”

The Foundation has been paying for mammograms through the Pink Mammogram Fund since the Foundation lost its grant funding for the program 13 years ago.

“In the last 12-13 years, we have done between 200 and 300 mammograms a year, and that is just mammograms,” she said. “That doesn’t include the additional views or biopsies that we have been able to provide.

“It has literally been thousands.”

The Foundation’s annual Pink by Poolside event was held last Friday at the Parkersburg Country Club as a fundraiser for the Pink Mammogram Fund. Through ticket sales alone, they raised $40,000.

“It was the biggest crowd we have ever had with over 400 people there,” Couch said. “Each of those tickets was $100 which gives us the opportunity to provide a free screening mammogram to someone in our community. That is the whole goal.”

Couch said they are in an excellent position to provide hundreds of mammograms in the coming year with the fund and their partnership with the hospital and its radiology group.

Although they are focused on cancer awareness now, Couch is urging women not to wait until October and to contact them for information about a free screening mammogram.

“We are literally offering them throughout the year,” she said, adding she tells women to get a mammogram around their birthdays as that is a date that is easy for many people to remember.

“Don’t wait until you have an issue, just call us,” she added.

Couch said she has people who are concerned because even if they can get a free screening mammogram, they don’t have any money to go forward and get additional services.

“It doesn’t just stop with the screening mammogram,” Couch said. “(With the support of groups like Wincore and others) we are able to help people throughout the entire process.”