CAPTION: Hedrick Medical Center's oncology nurse navigator program received $5,100 as a portion of funds raised in this year's Pink Out Chillicothe.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Hedrick Medical Center Emergency Department and the Chillicothe Fire Department partnered to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Pink Out Chillicothe 2016 was a success again this year because of the generosity of those who bought T-shirts and gave during the boot-block fundraiser. In total, the effort raised $7,100. Three different organizations were able to benefit from the funds raised: The Hedrick Oncology Nurse Navigator program received $5,100, Hope Lodge Kansas City received $1,000, and Mrs. Shira's 4th grade Leadership class received $1,000 as they make port covers and blankets for cancer patients.

Pink Out Day Boot Block
10/07/16

CAPTION: Firefighters load up as they prepared for the boot block for Friday's Pink Out Day.

C-T Photos / Jaime Saucedo

Members of the Department of Emergency Services, along with the employees of Hedrick Medical Center's Emergency Department, collected funds from 4 until 7 p.m. at the intersection of Clay and Washington streets to be used to assist patients with cancer. Funds raised Friday as well as through a boot block during Chautauqua in September and through the sale of pink t-shirts will go to Hedrick Medical Center's Nurse Navigator program, the Hope House, and to Central School's leadership class which makes items to assist cancer patients.

Hedrick Medical Center Emergency Department and the Chillicothe Fire Department recently presented a check to Lindy Chapman, Foundation Development Officer for the Hedrick Medical Center Foundation. The check was in the amount of $7,917.46, which was raised by a boot drive fundraiser during Chautauqua in the Park, and breast cancer awareness T-shirt sales. The funds raised will be used to help fund the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program at Hedrick Medical Center. Hedrick implemented the program in early 2015. It focuses on easing the physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial hardships of living with and beyond cancer. The program is funded by donations. "This fundraiser was once again a great success," said Bev Shaul, manager of Emergency Services at Hedrick Medical Center. "We would like to thank all of the employees, businesses, and citizens who bought a t-shirt and/or donated during our boot drive." For more information on the Hedrick Medical Center Foundation or the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program at Hedrick please call Lindy Chapman at 660-214-8107.

HMC, CFD, Sensenich Jewelers Raise $7K to Fight Cancer
October 27, 2014

CAPTION: Staff members from Hedrick Medical Center's Emergency Department and the Chillicothe Fire Department present a donation check of more than $7,000 to Maggie McKinley of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge of Kansas City.

Hedrick Medical Center Emergency Department and the Chillicothe Fire Department presented a donation check in the amount of $7,038.56 to the American Cancer Society (ACS) Hope Lodge - Kansas City. The check was received by Maggie McKinley, Relay for Life specialist. The total donation was raised by a boot drive fundraiser during Chautauqua in the Park on September 6 and 7 and breast cancer awareness T-shirt sales.

The Hope Lodge in Kansas City is located in the Quality Hill neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, and provides a home away from home for cancer patients who have traveled from out of town for treatment. Open 365 days a year, the Hope Lodge provides patients with easy access to their state of the art treatment at Saint Luke's Cancer Institute, while offering a caring, community environment during their stay. Built in September 2000, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Kansas City has served an estimated 8,000 cancer patients and care givers. It services more than 1,693 patients and care givers each year, completely free of charge. In addition to the funds raised by the Hedrick's Emergency Department and the Chillicothe Fire Department, Sensenich Jewelers also made a check presentation to ACS Hope Lodge. They donated 10 percent of their profits collected on the City's designated Pink Out Day on October 3. The funds raised will be used to help breast cancer patients from Livingston County with costs associated with travel and lodging while on trips to Kansas City for treatment.

"This fundraiser was once again a great success," said Bev Shaul, manager of Emergency Services at Hedrick Medical Center. "We'd really like to thank the community for their tremendous support of this worthy cause." For more information on ACS Hope Lodge, visit www.cancer.org/HopeLodgeKansasCity. The ACS Hope Lodge network provides a home-like place to stay for patients who had to travel far from home for treatment. This free lodging saves cancer patients tens of millions of dollars each year and makes it possible to access better treatment options because a major financial barrier is removed. Today there are 31 Hope Lodge locations in 22 states and Puerto Rico, serving patients every day of the year, and more are planned.

Firefighters in Pink
Show support in the fight against breast cancer
October 11, 2013

CAPTION: Chillicothe fire fighters are sporting the color pink throughout October to raise awareness of breast cancer and other cancers and encourage community members to take steps to reduce their risk of cancer. Members of one of the fire department shifts are pictured in front of a fire truck. From left:Aaron Minnick, David Gillespie, Jonathon Nolan, Donnie Rogers, and Les McMahan.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

In addition to fighting fires, Chillicothe fire fighters are sporting the color pink throughout October in an effort to fight breast and other cancers. Fire fighters exposed to carcinogens and other chemicals while on the job are disproportionately diagnosed with breast cancer - just one of many cancers linked to the work fire fighters do. With one in eight women diagnosed each year, an estimated 232,340 new cases of breast cancer and 39,620 deaths will be reported in 2013. Among all women affected, 85 percent have no family history. "Fire fighters are motivated to get involved for many reasons, and often it's because they have been personally affected by the disease," says Donnie Rogers, a fire fighter with the Chillicothe Fire Department and a member of IAFF Local 2460. "We are supporting breast cancer awareness and prevention by encouraging others to give so that no breast cancer patient goes without life-saving treatments or having hope for a cure."

Everyone is at risk for breast cancer. The two most important risk factors are being female and getting older. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no other known factors. To help reduce your risk, be sure to maintain a healthy weight, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercise and limit alcohol consumption.

The Chillicothe fire fighters encourage everyone in this community to participate in breast cancer awareness and prevention activities.