Strike out breast cancer at Bowling for Boobs in Vail
Annual bowling tournament brings out teams and individuals to raise money for free mammograms and more
Bowling for Boobs/Courtesy photo
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Vail Breast Cancer Group and Vail Valley Charitable Fund have some big news. These organizations have worked hard to provide a paid mammogram program for uninsured women of the Vail Valley.
“This new mammogram program allows us to take a preventative role in tackling the scary subject of breast cancer,” said Terri Hanley Reichert, who is the development manager with the Vail Valley Charitable Fund. “Our longtime partner, Vail Health, has thoughtfully and carefully helped us navigate the program details. We are grateful for their continued commitment to our community.”
The American College of Radiology recommends getting mammograms annually starting at the age of 40. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and early detection allows for the best possible outcomes.
“Mammograms are the best tool for detecting breast cancer. Early detection has been proven to improve treatment options and outcomes, dramatically improving the patient’s experience,” said Kristen Cobos, Vail Health’s director of Imaging Services. Every woman should have access to routine mammograms. We are thrilled to partner with the Vail Valley Charitable Fund to offer this resource to the women in our community.”
To fund this new initiative, the Vail Valley Charitable Fund is hosting Bowling for Boobs once again at Deca + Bol in Vail Village on Oct. 8. This fun night at the bowling alley returned last year after an 11-year hiatus. Bowling for Boobs was one of the signature fundraisers for the Vail Breast Cancer Group, formerly known as the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group.
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The nonprofit was founded by Brenda Himelfarb and Patti Weinstein in 1994 to help those in Eagle County who were diagnosed with the disease. Other fundraisers throughout Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group’s nearly 30-year history included the Snowshoe Shuffle, Run for the Hills and a luncheon event with celebrity speakers like former First Lady and Vail Valley resident Betty Ford, Dr. Susan Love, Elizabeth Edwards, Giuliana & Bill Rancic, Dorothy Hamill and Joan Lunden.
Last year, the event was brought back and sold out of teams. This year, it’s just as popular. While team play is not available, there is a spectator ticket for $30 that allows you to come to Deca + Bol and cheer everyone on during the tournament-style competition. You’ll get one free drink along with appetizers and have access to the silent auction.
The Vail Valley Charitable Fund is pleased to announce that the program has already received several donations, including an incredibly generous and anonymous donation of $50,000, which will enable it to begin offering paid mammograms immediately.
“We’re all about financial resiliency and by helping women get an early diagnosis, we’re also helping them recover as quickly as possible with the best outcome,” Reichert said. If additional diagnostic screening is necessary, the Vail Valley Charitable Fund will also provide a $500 stipend to help cover the costs of those services.
“We’ve all been touched by a loved one experiencing some sort of cancer. Breast cancer has incredible treatment options; this event creates an atmosphere encouraging early detection,” Reichert said. “If it speaks to just one woman who gets her mammogram, we are proud of that.”
To qualify, applicants must prove they have lived or worked in Vail Valley Charitable Fund’s service area for at least one year. The Vail Valley Charitable Fund service area extends from east to west, encompassing East Vail through Dotsero, including Minturn and Red Cliff. Eligible women should complete an application at VVCF.org.
“With an easy application and doctor’s orders for a screening mammogram, our program pays for uninsured women in our service area to get this vital screening. The Vail Valley Charitable Fund team is eager to help any woman through the application process. We have the ability to help in both English and Spanish,” Reichert said.
If you’re already signed up for a team, get your costumes all set, since there is quite a bit of team spirit going on beyond the bowling competitions. The event starts at 5, and the bowling championship team will be crowned at 9. To learn more, go to VVCF.org/BowlingForBoobs/.
