Breast cancer walk raises mammogram funds for uninsured

Oct. 10—Chilly temperatures didn't keep people from assembling at the Michigan Avenue Trailhead on Oct. 7 for Logansport Memorial Hospital's 19th annual River Bluff Fun Run and Walk.

Over 300 people registered for the event, and while the cold might have kept some of the registrants away, there were plenty of walkers and runners dressed in pink breast cancer awareness gear present to honor survivors.

Money raised for the event goes to pay for mammograms for women who are uninsured or underinsured.

Since January, the program has paid $4,200 in free mammograms in 2023, said Vicki Byrd, vice president of Planning and Development for Logansport Memorial Hospital.

People from all walks of life participated in the event — from doctors, breast cancer survivors, high school students and Miss Cass County Finley Hettinger and Little Miss Cass County Quinn Scott.

"As Miss Cass County, I think it is important to participate in and support events such as the River Bluff Fun Run and Walk," said Hettinger. "Not only was it heartwarming to see some of the survivors there, but to be able to walk for those who lost the battle and show support was important. Knowing the proceeds go towards breast cancer screenings for those women that are uninsured makes it even more of a reason to participate.

"Being an ambassador and having young girls see what I am doing in the community, it brings awareness to a younger generation. They themselves will be women one day, so the more they know the healthier they can be."

Gretchen Prifogle and Layla Powell, Logansport students in the school's Sub Debs club, walked for the first time.

"I thought it was a good opportunity for all because we are all girls and breast cancer is a problem for girls so I thought it was cool we could be girls supporting girls," said Prifogle, the club's president.

Powell said being involved in this year's walk was exciting.

"Last year I was in Sub Debs and we didn't really do actual community things," she said. "It's just really exciting that we are actually out doing things this year."

Fellow Logansport High School student Brandon Diaz, a junior, finished first in the run.

Sisters Kim Rife and Karen Budd, both cancer survivors, were wrapped in winter coats while waiting for the walk to begin. Budd is a nine-year survivor and Rife is in her first year. They also have a third sister who was diagnosed around the same time as Rife.

"We decided this was a good time to come out," said Budd.

Budd said mammograms are very important.

"One of us three sisters was able to catch it extremely early, got things taken care of," she said.

"Make sure you go to a reputable place to have your mammogram done," Rife added.

Dr. Cherie Bennett, a 13-year breast cancer survivor who works in internal medicine at LMH, said she was diagnosed based on an abnormal mammogram and it saved her life.

Bennett was one of the many people from the hospital participating in the event. She introduced survivors during a brief ceremony before the run and walk began.

Not only has breast cancer affected Bennett's life, but it has also affected her sister, a cousin and three aunts.

"It's definitely a family thing," she said.

"Breast cancer is a very relevant problem," said Greg Descoteaux, director of medical imaging at LMH. "We do a lot to try to prevent it. It's one of the few tests that we have established a good means of screening for. It's important that we get the word out and it's in the forefront of women's minds that the screening is done. We are able to catch cancers early and the chance of five-year recovery survivor rates are very good."

He encouraged women to follow guidelines for breast self-exams and report any noticed changes to their health provider while also being diligent about annual breast cancer screenings. Descoteaux said about 5,000 patients a year come into the hospital for a mammogram.

"Out of that, we are able to identify in early stages about 45 to 50 cancers a year," he said. "Those are lives saved. Those are real numbers. Very real data."

Lindsey Fleshman, a general surgeon at LMH, said mammograms should begin at the age of 40 and continue every year.

One out of eight women will be affected by breast cancer during their lifetime, she said.

"Breast cancer is really important to me," she said. "It means a lot to be able to raise awareness for such a good cause. (The Fun Run and Walk) provides mammograms and screenings for women who don't have the means. So, it's an important cause. Breast cancer is so common that it affects everybody."

Fleshman said that regardless of having insurance or not there are means to get things done.

"There is money for women who need help with things," she said. "Cost should never be a worry about getting things done. There are always ways in which they can work with people. I don't want that to be a barrier to come to get screenings."

Bennett said the free mammograms have saved people's lives.

"Early detection is key," said Paul Soderlund, radiation therapist and manager of the Logansport Memorial Hospital Cancer Care Center. "I see it in the treatment of breast cancer patients. The sooner we know that there is something going on, that's a better outcome, a better course of treatment and better all the way around. We are getting really good images these days."

Soderlund said the cancer center is a full-service center that offers radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. He said they use state-of-the-art equipment and have great doctors and staff.

"It's a smaller center and we know our patients really well," he said. "I think it's a great place to be treated."

"We have a great facility in our community," said Descoteaux. "It's something we should be proud of. We have a great hospital and the Cancer Care Center is top notch. We're here for the community and we plan on being here. We want to stick around and be able to serve the people we care for. It's our passion."