Gemma bus hits the road Aug. 31
PROVIDENCE – On Thursday, Aug. 31, Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) will welcome one of the state’s most recognizable vehicles when it hosts the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation’s “Hope Bus” at its Smithfield branch, located at 445 Putnam Pike. The 38foot long, 12-feet high bright pink Wellness and Resource Center on wheels will be on-site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During the visit, which is open to all members of the community, guests will be invited to tour the “Hope Bus” and learn about the many programs, services and resources offered by the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. Attendees will also have an opportunity to create a fabric square for the “Gloria Gemma Tapestry of Hope” by drawing or writing a message in honor of a loved one whose life has been touched by cancer. Additionally, breast cancer survivors will be on-hand to speak with visitors about their personal journeys with cancer and the support they received from the Foundation.
As the backbone of the Foundation’s outreach efforts, the “Hope Bus” brings the organization’s programs and services directly into communities to raise breast health awareness, encourage threefold screening and provide educational resources about the deadly disease. By stepping aboard the “Hope Bus,” visitors will instantly have access to free resources that include one-on-one consultations, information on patient and survivor support groups, and walk-in breast health classes. In Rhode Island, one out of seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.