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High Altitude Society column: Annual Celebration of life luncheon shines on

The Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group Board of Directors takes a photo with guest speaker Dr. Susan Love (lower center) before the “Celebration of Life Luncheon” and silent auction.
Betty Ann Woodland | Special to the Daily |

VAIL — On July 10, the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort was full of beautiful women dressed to the nines at the Celebration of Life Luncheon in support of the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group. These ladies who lunch — and a few great men — make a real difference in the lives of those battling breast cancer in our area. Since 1994, The Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group has played a critical role in bringing support to those diagnosed with breast cancer in Eagle County. They are dedicated to making their journey as easy as possible. Thanks to their signature event, the Celebration of Life luncheon, they have raised over a million dollars to fulfill their vision to fund those who fight this disease each day.

Board Member Brenda Himelfarb greeted the attendees and gave them an update.

“We give $500 to each person diagnosed with cancer … we have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Vail Valley Medical Center for various machines and programs. We have the ‘Shine On’ bag (full of pampering gifts), which we give to every person diagnosed. We really want to make everyone’s lives easier who are dealing with breast cancer,” Himelfarb said.



Vice President of the Shaw Regional Cancer Center Peggy Carey was invited to speak and present the check.

“Thank you and welcome everyone and thank you Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group for bringing Dr. Susan Love to talk with us today. We are lucky to have her here,” Carey said.

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Dr. Love has dedicated her professional life to the eradication of breast cancer. As the chief visionary officer of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, she oversees an active research program centered on breast cancer cause and prevention.

Automated Breast Ultrasound Unit

“Thank you to all for supporting your community and your friends and neighbors,” Carey continued. “This year the funds raised will go to an automated breast ultrasound unit.”

Colleen Berga, manager at the Sonnenalp Breast Center at the Shaw Cancer Center explained that the ultrasound machine “is specifically for dense breasted women that can benefit from additional breast health surveillance and is meant to complement screening mammography. The new equipment will provide greater patient comfort, quicker scan time and a 3D reconstructed image providing more detail for our breast radiologists.”

VBCAG Board Member of seventeen years, Joyce Bradley, announced that besides herself, co-founder Brenda Himelfarb and longtime member Nikki Denton, the group is working with a whole new board of directors. The group extended their sincere gratitude to the many table organizers, sponsors and individual contributors for their generous support. Please visit http://www.vailbreastcancerawareness.org to learn more about the group’s mission and programs.

Betty Ann Woodland covers social events including fundraisers for nonprofits, local happenings and soirees of all kinds. She can be reached at highaltitudesociety@vaildaily.com.


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