Health System Foundation receives Komen Grant

BATESVILLE — White River Health System in Batesville received a grant for $36,977 from Susan G. Komen for the Cure Arkansas. The grant continues the WRHS Get Your Mammogram (GYM) Project. With this grant, the health system and the physicians of North Arkansas Radiology continue to provide potential lifesaving mammography screenings, education and breast-health services to women in north-central Arkansas who are uninsured or underinsured.

The GYM Project provides free screening and diagnostic mammography, ultrasounds and ultrasound-guided needle biopsy for eligible women. The program primarily serves women ages 40 to 64 who cannot afford mammography services and are not covered by commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or Arkansas BreastCare.

Younger women may also qualify for the project if their physicians determine that they have a significant clinical risk or family history of breast cancer. Those who cannot afford an office visit to a family physician for a clinical breast exam and mammography referral may also qualify for an office visit at no cost.

Komen mammograms are available to patients based on funding availability and patient qualification at the WRMC Medical Complex Cherokee Village, Stone County Medical Center and White River Medical Center. Women who want to take advantage of the free mammograms may call Jenny Callahan at (870) 262-6210 for an application.

Komen for the Cure was established as the Komen Foundation in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and donors, Komen for the Cure has raised over $1 billion for the fight against breast cancer.