Community Raises $87,000 To Help Provide Mammograms

VINTON, Iowa- It?s been more than five months since strong winds ripped through the town of Vinton, and left millions of dollars in damage behind.

Despite the physical and financial dent it put on the community, people living there still haven?t stopped giving. People in Vinton, Van Horne, Urbana and other surrounding areas have raised thousands of dollars to help provide mammograms for women.

?I?ve always thought it was a great place to live and this just confirms that fact,? said Mike Timmermans, The Foundation Director at Virginia Gay Hospital, in Vinton.

The hospital had never had a mammography device, despite a demand in the community. ?We are hoping to make mammograms more accessible to the women in the area,? said Michele Schoonover, the hospital?s Director of General Services.

With money from their annual Tree of Lights fundraiser, the Hospital purchased the $500,000 dollar machine. But they still had to renovate the room and pay for staff training. That?s when they called on their community, and got a big response. ?We were expecting around $50,000 from the community and they served past our wildest dreams,? said Schoonover.

Fundraising efforts started back in January and quickly caught on. The people of Benton County pitched in $87,000 so people in their community can be easily screened for breast cancer.

?I just think it?s great that people don?t have to travel for their mammography needs, they can do it in house,? said Timmermans.

The new unit is fully digital, it can identify the fingerprints of staff members who use it, and is accessible for those in wheelchairs.But most importantly, it can help save lives.

?People are surprising, they?ve really stepped up and we couldn?t be more grateful. It?s our chance to give back to the community and it makes you proud,? said Timmermans.

The hospital plans to start offering screenings twice a week starting at the end of January.

Source: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Community-Raises-87000-To-Help-Provide-Mammograms-136047363.html

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