The popularity of Scranton's holiday light show is drawing breast-cancer survivors and volunteers to Nay Aug Park in an effort to raise awareness to the dreaded disease.
Tonight, a dozen Susan G. Komen for the Cure members and cancer survivors will hand out pink bags filled with important information regarding mammograms and screenings.
"We're doing this because the people in this community have been very good to us and this is another way in which we can donate our time and give something back," said Dolly Woody, the executive director of the Komen Foundation's local unit.
Ms. Woody acknowledged that the large crowds regularly drawn by the light show allows for even more people to receive the important message volunteers are delivering.
Spread the word
An average of 1,200 cars pass through the park each night to see the light show, meaning there could be an opportunity for volunteers to reach at least 3,000 to 4,000 people, said Mark Dougher, the city's parks and recreation director.
"I thought this would be a good idea with all these people going through the park," Mr. Dougher said. "Lately, it seems, all I'm hearing about is someone being diagnosed with cancer. There is bad news everywhere."
Making matters worse is the nation's ongoing economic crisis, which now threatens to cut a vital state program that promotes cancer screening for the uninsured and those who don't earn enough money for proper medical care, Ms. Woody said.
"The state's Healthy Woman Project is in jeopardy of losing significant funding, as much as $1 million," she said. "We want people to know that it would be helpful for them to write their (state representatives) because these funds must not be sacrificed."
The Healthy Woman Project provides cancer screenings, pap smears, mammograms and follow-up services to low- and moderate-income uninsured women between 40 and 64 years of age. Additionally, insured women can also use the services offered through the project if their insurance doesn't pay for all the necessary procedures.
"We've worked hard to the point where we've gotten cancer on the minds of people and we do have the government's ear," Ms. Woody said. "But, people are losing jobs and funding is getting cut. We still have many people who don't have access to treatment and, even if they have insurance, the costs add up with co-pays and a deductible, so to lose the program would have a big impact across this state."
Always thinking
While the Komen organization hosts its annual Race for the Cure in September and national Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed yearly in October, Ms. Woody said the holidays are still a good time to think pink.
"Breast cancer isn't just September and October, it's every day, and we want to remember the ones who are living with it," she said. "We have to remember that we still have a fight on our hands, and we want women to do whatever they can. We want them to get checked, and we want them to put it on their New Year's calendar as a promise to have a mammogram."
Volunteers and survivors will be stationed in a heated tent near the park's swimming pool. They will work two shifts, 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Ms. Woody said.
The plan is for everyone to wear pink if the weather permits, she said. "We will wear as much pink as possible, and we will be giving away little pink bags filled with information about how to call for free mammograms if you don't have insurance."
Contact the writer: sbrown@timesshamrock.comIf you go
What: Cancer Awareness Night
When: Tonight, 5 to 9 p.m.
Where: At the Nay Aug Park Holiday Light Show
Details: Breast-cancer survivors and volunteers from Susan G. Komen for the Cure will hand out pink bags filled with information about cancer awareness. The information will include how low- to moderate-income individuals and those without health insurance can receive free mammograms, screenings and other procedures. To see more of The Times-Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.