REGINA - Thousands of women across Saskatchewan will soon have increased access to breast cancer screening services, thanks to a major donation from the Kinsmen Foundation.
The Kinsmen Foundation presented a $1 M cheque to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan’s Breast Cancer Screening Bus campaign. This gift was made possible thanks to donations made to the annual TeleMiracle telethon.
“This breast cancer screening service plays a critically important, life saving role in the lives of thousands of women across rural Saskatchewan every year. Thanks to the generosity of TeleMiracle donors, we are honoured to enable the continuation of this crucial service, for years to come,” Raelynn Nicholson, Chair of the Kinsmen Foundation Board of Directors.
The $1M donation completes the fundraising required in the Beast Cancer Screening Bus Campaign launched one year ago by the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. This donation is an example of two uniquely Saskatchewan foundations joining forces to support Saskatchewan people with breast cancer.
“One year ago, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we launched a campaign to raise $2M to replace and fully equip a new breast screening vehicle. Our donors rose to the task to ensure the continuation of this critical service of breast cancer screening for women in rural and remote communities across the province. Now, thanks to the Kinsmen Foundation, we have reached our $2M fundraising target. We want to thank the Kinsmen Foundation for their donation which will assist in saving the lives of many, many Saskatchewan women for years to come,” Nora Yeates, CEO, Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women and the second leading cause of their death. It is estimated that 760 Saskatchewan women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, and 170 will die from the disease. Early detection plays a critically important role in saving lives.
The Breast Cancer Screening Bus plays a crucial role in Kelly Rea’s life. Kelly, who lives 10 miles north of Norquay, Saskatchewan, travels regularly to get her mammograms on the screening bus. She says it has been a life-saving resource for many rural Saskatchewan residents.
“I am so pleased to know that this incredible resource will continue to operate for rural and northern women. For many rural women, travelling to Saskatoon or Regina for a mammogram can sometimes be incredibly difficult, which means without local access many would not get mammograms. Because it travels to rural and northern communities across the province, the Breast Cancer Screening Bus makes accessing your mammogram easy. The Breast Cancer Screening Bus plays an incredibly important role in helping to save lives. This new funding means it will continue to be able to do so, for many, many more Saskatchewan women well into the future,” said Rea.
The Breast Cancer Screening Bus has facilitated more than 250,000 potentially life-saving screening mammograms to thousands of Saskatchewan women over the past 20 years.
“We are so very pleased to be able to assist the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, in continuing to offer this vital service to women across the province,” said Nicholson.
“We want to thank all of the many individuals, communities, and organizations across the province that along with the Kinsmen Foundation, have enabled us to reach the required $2M fundraising goal. Your efforts in supporting access to cancer detection and treatment services in the province play a huge role in the ongoing delivery of high-quality cancer treatment for Saskatchewan people,” said Yeates.
The Screening Program for Breast Cancer provides screening mammograms to Saskatchewan women who:
• are 50 years of age or older,
• do not have symptoms of breast cancer such as lumps, bloody nipple discharge or skin changes,
• do not have breast implants,
• are not on active follow-up for breast cancer, and,
• have been cancer free for five years.
Screening mammograms are available at permanent Saskatchewan Cancer Agency centres in Regina and Saskatoon, and at satellite centres in Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current and Yorkton.
The Breast Cancer Screening Bus provides screening services to women in nearly 40 rural and remote communities across Saskatchewan.
