Fundraising team lauded for Breast Health Centre support
On the morning of March 11, 2020, Anna Vozza was ready to welcome almost 800 women to a celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) at the Ciociaro Club.
Before noon, the WHO had declared a global pandemic emergency because of the outbreak of Covid-19 and the event had to be cancelled.
“My heart fell,” recalls Vozza, co-organizer and Ciociaro Club IWD Committee member. It was a reality we had to face. Our priority was to put the safety of others first.”
The committee announced the cancellation on social media and took to the phones to contact people directly regarding the cancellation. Refunds were later given to all ticket holders.
One year later, nothing has changed, leaving Vozza and her team again unable to host their fundraising event, which has supported Windsor Regional Hospital’s Breast Health Centre.
When Vozza and her fellow Ciociaro Club members Ilde Mariani, Rita Petrilli and Anna Vitti decided to start their IWD committee, they had no affiliation to the hospital.
“We were celebrating women, so it just made sense to focus on breast cancer,” says Vozza.
Mammograms, which are an x-ray of the breast, play a huge role in early detection of breast cancer and detect it up to two years before the tumor can be felt by women or their doctors.
“This is about breast health, not breast cancer,” says Gisele Seguin, Windsor Regional Hospital’s (WRH) director of public affairs, communications & philanthropy. “Most woman who get a mammogram come out with a clean bill of health. The whole reason you get a mammogram is to detect cancer. And hopefully that is a small percentage.”
Women 40 and older who are at average risk should have an annual mammogram.
Since 2018, the centre has performed an average of almost 12,000 screening mammograms and 3,300 diagnostic mammograms fiscally.
Over the last year, screening tests have dropped by roughly 50 per cent.
The problem right now is that nobody wants to go to the hospital because of COVID -19, and Vozza doesn’t blame them.
“But what that is going to do is delay people from getting a diagnosis,” she says. “We want women to get screened and have no fear about doing so.”
Despite the pandemic, “women can feel very safe to attend the Breast Health Centre for mammography,” says Dr. Deljit Dahnoa, chief of diagnostic imaging at WRH. “When cancers are found early, we have better chances of treating them and the treatment/surgery may potentially be less invasive.”
The committee’s efforts have raised approximately $140,000 to date for the Breast Health Centre, which helped them recently add a 3-D Digital Mammography machine.
“They’re definitely the lead sponsor of the Breast Health Centre and have always been in the forefront,” says Seguin. “We’re truly grateful for their support and we certainly wouldn’t have been able to do what we’ve done over the last 10 years without them. They are a great group of ladies and we’re really proud to be associated with them.”
With thousands of women going through the centre annually, there is a constant need to upgrade equipment as well as furniture, beautification and other items needed to keep it a good and safe place to visit.
“It’s not an inexpensive operation at all,” says Seguin. “And their funds have supported the entire operation.”
Vozza and her team now look ahead to 2022 to get their event back on track.
“Our plans are to continue with the event as we once did and continue traditions and working towards a goal to help our community in the Windsor Regional Hospital Breast Health Centre,” says Vozza.
Their work is an example of a great team of strong women working together effectively toward a common goal – of women celebrating women and supporting women, Seguin notes.
“Their event is a great night out for women. It’s absolutely lovely and they do an amazing job.”
The dinner features guest speakers, a fashion show, donating vendors, jewelry, prizes, wine tasting, candy tables and more.
“The success (of the event) has been incredible,” says Vozza. “But what is amazing for us is to see is when you walk into ambulatory care area where the mammograms are done at WRH, you see the Ciociaro Club crest on one of the pillars and on the wall of one of the exam rooms signifying our contribution to the hospital over the years. It’s really special to us.”
To make a donation to the Breast Health Centre, call 519-985-6256 or visit wrh.on.ca/support.