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For 15 years, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center has hosted an annual Breast Cancer Awareness walk to raise awareness of and recognize those affected by breast cancer. We’ve had a long history of doing this walk in downtown Americus and honoring survivors, those we have lost, and those fighting breast cancer in our community in addition to providing general education to participants about screening and healthy lifestyles. This fall, we are introducing some changes that we hope will be embraced by all who have attended in the past without affecting the core mission of the event that so many have loved over the years.

The Phoebe Sumter Foundation is helping us transition the event to not only raise awareness, but to also raise funds that help provide needed support of local cancer services and patient emergency funds for our local patients in need. This year, we will rebrand the event as “Sumter Pink” and host it on the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center campus on October 26, 2019.

Don’t worry, we will still provide the same level of awareness and education as we have in the past. We have already received a generous donation from Drs. John and Patty Fennessy, Phoebe Sumter Foundation Wheatley Society Members. They are honoring survivors by offering to pay their registration fee for those who would like to accept the donation. Dr. Patty Fennessy is a long-time Board member and the Secretary of the Phoebe Sumter Foundation as well as a proud supporter of women’s health as a practicing gynecologist. The Foundation will be obtaining other sponsors and asking participants for a donation to the Foundation to participate in honor or memory of their loved one affected by breast cancer.

The Phoebe Sumter Foundation provides support for local patients through the purchase of needed items and providing Patient Emergency Funds used to cover the cost of utility bills and other needs for families struggling with illness. In 2019, the Patient Emergency Funds have already provided $5,300 of needed support to local patients.  Last year, the Phoebe Sumter Foundation provided over $2,000 in funding for fanny packs for patients undergoing chemotherapy and to refresh the Gail Hooks Memorial garden to improve the experience our patients. In 2017, they provided over $120,000 for the purchase of our new 3-D mammography unit that elevated the clinical quality of our breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

While it is changing, we hope you join us on October 26, 2019 for the new, exciting Sumter Pink event. This partnership with the Phoebe Sumter Foundation will help us continue our mission of awareness and extend our services and alleviate the burdens of more of our community members in the future.

The Sumter Pink Walk will be a fun walk held October 26^th with registration at 8 am and kick-off at 8:30 am on the Mattie Marshall Cross Country Trail (Event will begin on Odom Road). Early bird registration cost is $25, which includes a t-shirt and a SWAG bag.  Proceeds will assist patients in financial crisis, provide mammograms, and provide diagnostic and assistive supplies.  There are opportunities to sponsor, donate, and volunteer to the cause by emailing phoebesumterfoundation@phoebehealth.com.  To register for the walk: www.phoebehealth.com/sumterpink

Brandi Lunneborg, CEO

Phoebe Sumter Medical Center

Americus